You are delivering the course again this year...
Indeed, it was a great success last year. Conflicts will never disappear; situations will always arise in which we may feel that we lack skills or a new approach. It is a theoretical-practical workshop where we will learn certain aspects of understanding conflicts. We will also work on communication and negotiation skills to implement them in real-world scenarios.
So, it's a practical workshop...
Yes, it has to be so we can appreciate each other's difficulties and strengths. The theory is often well understood, and we consciously want to follow a certain path (e.g., not judging, listening attentively, letting people speak), but it can also be very difficult. Practising is the best way to become aware of our contradictions and to take steps towards a more ideal way of resolving conflicts.
I understand that conflict is part of life and will always be there, but are conflicts more prevalent now than before when working with young people?
Humans are extremely complex, and sometimes it isn't easy to find a balance that allows us to live in a more or less healthy state of mind. We live in a society that is sometimes hyper-demanding and, at other times, very lax. Essentially, people encounter the same conflicts at every stage of life. I believe the challenge we face today in society is one of boundaries: the boundary between supporting and overprotecting, between my desires and those of others, and between listening and imposing.
Adults who work with young people must do so in the most respectful and assertive way possible, combining NO with understanding, listening, and negotiating with them whenever possible. This approach to dealing with conflicts will also give them the skills to manage the thousand-and-one conflict situations they face on a daily basis.
Negotiation is a process that brings many essential skills into play in our society, which are necessary to coexist at home, at work, and at leisure. Negotiation is based on the difference between two human beings who think, feel, speak and desire different things. Although this may seem obvious, it leads to tremendous problems when living together. Negotiation gives us the chance to understand each other, to come closer, and sometimes to find an agreement, a way of living together that gives us peace. Even when we do not reach an understanding, listening to the other can allow us to accept them and stop fighting.
And who is this course for? Who is it intended for?
It is aimed at people who work with young people. It will help these people to deal directly with youths when there is a conflict, as we will focus on everything to do with assertive communication (active listening and descriptive language) and negotiation. However, in the absence of conflict, these same tools will help them to relate more assertively and empathetically, two qualities that build trust. Trust and respect for professionals are two key aspects at work, as it means that what they say is more likely to be heard and taken into account.
