A Facilitator’s Guide to Addressing Conflict

What should professional facilitators understand about conflict and how to manage it? This interactive workshop will help new and experienced facilitators understand what conflict is, identify their own typical responses to conflict, apply the insights of the Conflict Dynamics Profile, and consider alternatives to de-escalate conflicts which occur during a facilitation engagement.

The ideas presented in the workshop will draw on the work of Dr. Marilee Adams (The Choice Map™, https://inquiryinstitute.com/resources/choice-map/) and the four-step mediation process used by professional mediators across the country. Facilitators will also learn how many of their own tools are highly useful in de-escalating and resolving conflict. 

Participants will:

• Identify your default response to conflict based on the Conflict Dynamics Profile.
• Practice the Observation, Actions, Results model to build self-awareness on choosing more effective actions and responses to conflict during a facilitation engagement.
• De-escalate conflict through applying “learner questions” based on The Choice Map™.
• Use role play to practice resolving conflicts.

Participants will receive handouts of the Conflict Dynamics Profile, The Choice Map™, and four-step process to de-escalate conflicts.

About the Presenters

Gina Weatherup believes we spend too much time working to not be happy at work. She founded Chantilly Mediation and Facilitation because she thrives when working with small groups to improve communications. Gina has 15 years of communications experience, working with the government, non-profits, and small businesses. Her roles have ranged from community organizer to EEO complaints processor to online content writer. The common thread in all of her jobs (and several personal roles) has been active listening. Gina is a trained mediator, has a MA in Women’s Studies from the George Washington University, and holds a Professional Certificate in the Science of Happiness at Work. Gina is a member of the Virginia Mediation Network, the Mid-Atlantic Facilitator Network, and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Nathalie Thompson is a leadership/team coach and professional facilitator with more than 20 years of experience working in various industries, domestically and internationally. Nathalie designs and teaches leadership, conflict resolution and communications training. Ms. Thompson is a certified mediator working with Northern Virginia Mediation Service (NVMS) providing training and mentorship to mediators seeking Virginia Supreme Court Mediator certification. She is also a member of the NVMS’ Restorative Justice (RJ) team implementing RJ in the Fairfax County, VA School, Police and Juvenile Justice Systems.

If registrant pays for an individual MAFN workshop session and contacts info@mafn.org to cancel before the registration deadline, MAFN will either credit the full registration fee towards a future workshop or process a refund, less a processing fee of $10. No refunds after registration deadline has passed.