Managing Conflict in the Age of Polarization - NetSpeed Learning Solutions Newsletter

October 2018

Managing Conflict in the Age of Polarization

This week I'm thinking about conflict. With everything that is happening in the United States right now as two polarized political parties battle over a Supreme Court nomination, how could I avoid thinking about conflict? I read articles in my Facebook stream and then check out the comments as people sling angry attacks at each other, name call, and present their opinions as fact. I can't help but conclude that most people are not skilled at handling disagreements, and we certainly don't appear to have strong role models in many of our political leaders and representatives.

Organizations thrive when people communicate openly and honestly. When conflict arises in our workplaces, we expect our staff to work it out and come to agreement. We know that conflict reduces productivity and stifles innovation. We know that taking polarized positions in the workplace blocks effective collaboration. Focused on mutual goals, employees can and should be able to talk through their differences to arrive at shared solutions.

There are four common communication errors that people often use when they are not getting their own way. (Sadly, you can see all four on display in our public institutions these days.) These tactics, when used in the workplace, usually lead to chronic conflict:

Manipulating (attempting to influence someone's behavior or attitude through deception or secrecy)
Whining (complaining without seeking to improve the situation)
Attacking (repeatedly expressing anger and frustration in the form of inappropriate personal criticism)
Bullying (making unreasonable demands and threats that exceed appropriate consequences)

Are you ready to help your managers and employees give up these dysfunctional patterns? Take a few minutes to complete the About You questionnaire at our website. These results will help you evaluate your own behavior. Then plan to attend our next webinar to learn about our interactive, experiential training program, Managing Workplace Conflict .

To learn how organizations like yours are developing their people to communicate openly and honestly, join us for our next complimentary webinar Strategies to Reduce Conflict in the Virtual Workplace on Wednesday, October 17, 1:00 pm ET/ 10:00 am PT.

Cynthia Clay
President/CEO

Advanced Virtual Facilitator Training:

Leveraging Cognitive Principles for
Superior Virtual Classroom Experiences

Announcing our newest course for virtual learning professionals who want to develop advanced virtual design and facilitation skills!

If you want to leverage the neuroscience of learning to design and facilitate extraordinary online learning experiences, register now for our latest course. We've built this course incorporating 12 brain-based learning principles (six for engagement and six for retention).

Limited to eight participants, the course is experiential, participatory, and hands-on. Facilitated by Cynthia Clay and Sherry Johnson-Metz, this advanced course requires previous certification in a virtual facilitator course delivered by NetSpeed Learning Solutions (or a comparable virtual training course).

Objectives

By the end of this six-week course, you will be able to:

Incorporate brain-based engagement and retention principles in the blended virtual classroom (synchronous and asynchronous)
Evaluate virtual course designs to increase learner attention, engagement, and retention
Boost collaborative learning and on-the-job application in blended virtual courses
Audit any virtual course design to leverage the neuroscience of learning for maximum results
Apply facilitation practices to increase engagement and knowledge retention

What You'll Experience

Two 90-minute web workshops modeling the virtual skills and practices
Online assignments integrating the 12 brain-based principles into your techniques
Hands-on coaching with a NetSpeed Learning Solutions Master Trainer
Experience designing a complete blended virtual course
Delivery of a 20-minute trainback experience
The opportunity to observe and give feedback to your peer professionals
Valuable feedback from your colleagues and the Master Trainer

Course Schedule

November 7	Course Opens Introductory Assignments Online
November 15 10:00 am PT/ 1:00 pm ET	Web Workshop 1: Brain-based Learning Principles for Maximum Engagement (90 minutes)
November 29 10:00 am PT/ 1:00 pm ET	Web Workshop 2: Brain-based Learning Principles for Maximum Retention (90 minutes)
December 13 8:00 am PT 11:00 am ET	Trainback Delivery (Observation and Feedback) (Five hours)

Total Time Investment: 24 hours = 8 hours (synchronous) + 16 hours (asynchronous)

Price: $2,000 per person ($1800 with 10% discount if payment is received on or before October 15, 2018

Learn More and Register Now! Course is limited to eight participants.

One Final Thought

Cynthia Clay is an engaging and powerful keynote speaker! Invite her to speak at your next event (face-to-face or online)!

Learn more!

Like & Share This Meme on LinkedIn!

Ask Cynthia

This short video answers the question: "Is it possible to deepen connections online?"

Watch the Video

Upcoming Events

Explore something new with one of our engaging and interactive webinars or public courses.

Virtual Facilitator Trainer Certification (VFTC)

Go back to school this fall! The October VFTC is open for enrollment, and is the last class of the year. This wildly popular course always receives rave reviews from participants as it provides a deep-dive into best practices for virtual facilitation and design!

You've seen Cynthia Clay in action month after month, now it's your turn to rock the virtual classroom! Course opens October 17th, and the first webinar is October 24th.

Learn More and Register

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Virtual Host Training
as a Public Course

Every virtual facilitator needs a capable virtual host. The virtual host performs a critical role supporting the virtual facilitator by managing all the behind-the-scenes aspects that can interfere with and distract from the learning experience, so the facilitator can focus on the needs of the participants.

We usually offer the Virtual Host course as a private course for organizations with four or more participants but we've had so many inquiries recently, we've decided to offer a public Virtual Host course in late October.

Learn More and Register

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Strategies to Reduce Conflict in the Virtual Workplace

This session explores how to resolve conflict in in the virtual workplace. This webinar introduces the practical, proven methods contained in

Peer Power: Transforming Workplace Relationships, by Cynthia Clay and Ray Olitt.

Wednesday, October 17

1:00 pm ET / 10:00 am PT

Complimentary

Learn More and Register

_______________________

Rocking the Digital Workplace: Leading High-Impact Virtual Teams

This session explores how virtual leaders must attend to relationship, reliability, results, and recognition issues as they strive to communicate clearly and build connections across virtual distance.

Wednesday, November 14

1:00 pm ET / 10:00 am PT

Complimentary

Learn More and Register