Description
Disagreement and conflict seem to be everywhere we look. Heated tempers hijack productive conversations, preventing understanding and resolution. At the other extreme, staying silent or feeling unsafe to express an honest opinion makes productive problem-solving impossible. The ability to express disagreement respectfully and effectively is essential to a civilized society and a healthy workplace. It is possible to defend personal convictions while also understanding opposing viewpoints. In this course, you will learn critical skills for navigating difficult conversations. Compromise, negotiation, and persuasion and interact respectfully with others who think, work, and live differently than we do.
Course Content
Course Schedule
Day 1
- Managing your mind: understanding the brain’s response to conflict
- Understanding and leveraging your conflict style
Day 2
- Strategies for managing conflict effectively
- De-escalating hostile reactions
Course Impact
This course is designed for anyone who wants to create a better team atmosphere and mediate conflict. It is especially helpful for individuals in a leadership capacity who want to create a collaborative work environment and understand how to manage conflict.
Course Logistics
Spring Dates
May 29-30, 2025
Fall Dates
October 2-3, 2025
Class Time
8:30am – 4:30pm
Course Cost
$1900
Proof of accomplishment
Eccles Executive Education is recognized by SHRM to offer SHRM-CP or SHRMSCP professional development credits (PDCs). This program is valid for 13 PDCs. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit SHRMCertification.org.
Get a Certificate
This course is a part of the Executive Leadership Certificate.
Whether you are an aspiring professional or an attentive executive, this certificate can elevate your leadership potential. The courses in this certificate are designed to provide you with the expertise, credibility, and confidence required to lead modern teams.
Faculty
Jennifer Cummings, Ph.D.
Dr. Jennifer Cummings is an Associate Professor/Lecturer in the Department of Management in the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. She received her Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Utah where she taught for 15 years before coming to the Eccles School 7 years ago. She teaches in MBA programs, the Master of Business Creation program, Business Scholars, and Management undergraduate programs. Areas of interest for Dr. Cummings include conflict management, emotional intelligence, positive psychology, leadership and professional development, public speaking, and effective teams. As a certified conflict mediator and certified emotional intelligence consultant, she enjoys helping professionals work through personal and relationship challenges to find greater satisfaction and enjoyment in their work and personal lives.
Looking for more information?
Katrina Johnson –
“Engaging topic! Lectures were interesting and went by quickly, activities were fun and informative, both days flowed well and were enjoyable. Great instructor.”
Katrina Vastag –
“I honestly enjoyed learning how to communicate more firmly, yet respectfully, by the example of Jennifer Cummings.”
Katrina Vastag –
“The content had abundant tips and resources for real life application, which is sometimes rare from professors. Loved it.”
Katrina Vastag –
“It’s a great reminder of how to work effectively with others and a good framework for teaching my teams.”
Katrina Vastag –
“This was an outstanding class, examples were really relevant and realistic, instructor did an exceptional job of engaging everyone in the room using a variety of teaching techniques and provided appropriate breaks.”
Katrina Vastag –
“Jennifer’s style, presentation, speech, and tone were so easy to listen to. I really enjoyed the pre-reading assignments that framed the content we would be learning. There was also an appropriate amount of class examples and feedback weaved into the content delivery. Jennifer was excellent at maintaining a good flow.”
Katrina Vastag –
“Very insightful. Fabulous women to collaborate with. Jennifer Cummings was fabulous – delightful and knowledgeable.”