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Description

Workplace Conflict: Spotting the Signals, Defusing Tensions and Restoring Cooperation

Two days to address team tensions before they lastingly block the work

  • 2 days — 14 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Intermediate
  • Up to 6 participants

Two team members have stopped speaking to each other. Every second meeting turns into a silent stand-off. The manager can see the situation deteriorating but hesitates to step in for fear of making matters worse. The work suffers long before anyone dares to name the problem.

These two days are designed for managers already in post. They cover the early detection of tensions, conducting a confrontation interview and facilitating a meeting between two members of the team. The cases worked on are those brought by the participants themselves.

Learning objectives

  • Identify the weak signals that precede an entrenched conflict
  • Distinguish a professional disagreement from an established relational conflict
  • Conduct a confrontation interview while staying focused on the facts
  • Facilitate a meeting between two team members in conflict
  • Define the next steps when the situation does not resolve itself

What makes this programme different

The cases worked on are real situations brought by the participants
A full sequence is rehearsed: one-to-one interview followed by a three-way meeting
An analysis grid for conflict situations that can be used immediately on return

Programme

1Seeing Conflict Coming

Reading tensions before they erupt

  • Observable signals in the work itself and in day-to-day exchanges
  • Common sources of tension linked to how work is organised
  • Distinguishing disagreement, tension and open conflict
  • Analysis of a situation brought by a participant

2Understanding What Fuels the Conflict

People's positions, interests and needs

  • Gaps between what is said and what is actually being sought
  • Effects of interpretation and rumour
  • The manager's role when perceived as a party to the conflict
  • Mapping the stakeholders involved

3Conducting the Confrontation Interview

Naming the problem without accusing

  • Preparing the facts and setting the frame for the interview
  • An opening that states the subject without apportioning blame
  • Managing defensive reactions and emotional outbursts
  • Formulating commitments that can be verified

4Restoring Joint Working

After the crisis, the team carries on

  • Facilitating a meeting between two team members in conflict
  • Working rules re-established with the team
  • Following up on commitments over time
  • Limits of managerial intervention and possible escalation routes

Who is it for

Experienced managers, human resources officers and department heads facing persistent tensions within their teams.

Prerequisites

Hold a management or supervisory role and have a live tension situation to work on.

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.