Learn how to manage conflict and difficult people in the workplace
October 2, 2012 •
Chances are you’ve encountered your share of difficult people in the workplace. But, as they say, it takes two to tango.
We often ask ourselves “How can I improve this situation?” You can learn to address conflict by rising above your personal stake in the situation and focusing on the approach that will result in the most successful outcome for you, the other party and the organization.
So says Raj Kapur, president of the Center for Project Management and a familiar face at UCOP. Kapur regularly facilitates learning and development workshops, including a three-part series in Project Management, Influencing Without Authority and Working with Difficult People.
“You can’t control other people, but you can control what you bring to a given situation,” said Kapur, who teaches his classes more like a “coach,” bringing to participants what he calls an “inward-looking” approach.
Two UCOP workshops in the coming weeks can provide you with tools for dealing with both conflict and difficult colleagues in the workplace: Conflict Management in the Workplace, taught by facilitator Katy Liddell, and Working with Difficult People, taught by Kapur (see details below).
Please note that all of UCOP’s Learning and Development communications and supervision workshops are conducted in an atmosphere of confidentiality. Attendees are asked to maintain confidentiality so that participants can feel open to discussing their issues and specific situations.
Conflict Management in the Workplace
- Tuesday, Oct. 16, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- 12322 Franklin
Conflict is a natural occurrence in the workplace, ranging from differences of opinion to patterns of interaction between two people or heated disagreements. Learning and development facilitator Katy Liddell presents this new workshop, which provides useful tools for assessing conflict situations and your own style for handling conflict. When managed effectively, conflict can be used to spur innovation and productive change that supports rather than undermines the organization’s goals.
Working with Difficult People
- Thursday, Nov. 8, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- 9204 Franklin
Success in dealing with difficult people begins with understanding how we behave and impact others. Planning for and approaching challenging people with effective communication tools and techniques can lead to more positive outcomes and help you turn difficult situations into opportunities for growth. You will learn the benefits of confrontation and how to deal with anger, as well as a three-step conflict-resolution model.
To register for these classes, go to the UCOP Learning Center:
- Log in using your UCOP login and password.
- Using the Search box on the left, type in the name of the class you want; that will bring up Results of Search.
- Click the session you want, then click on the Register box and Submit.
