Agree’s trainers are “subject matter experts” with each having active practices in mediation, conflict coaching, workplace assessment and group facilitation. They draw on their communication and conflict resolution expertise in order to provide a relevant and practical learning experience. Customized in-house training programs are designed and delivered to a wide range of diverse organizations. Public courses are delivered at colleges and universities and through the Human Resource Professional Association (HRPA). These include Queen’s University’s Industrial Relations Centre, Labour Relations Certificate program, and the University of Waterloo, Conrad Grebel College Certificate Program in Conflict Management,
Agree trainers also design and deliver courses at colleges and universities and through the Human Resource Professional Association (HRPA). These include Queen’s University’s Industrial Relations Centre, Labour Relations Certificate program, and the University of Waterloo, Conrad Grebel College Certificate Program in Conflict Management. Dispute Resolution 1 & 2 are recognized by the ADR Institute of Ontario (ADRIO) as satisfying the educational component of their membership requirements, and can be used towards fulfilling the prerequisites of ADRIO’s designations of Chartered Mediator (C.Med.) or Qualified Mediator (Q.Med.)
Our facilitators are excellent communicators, and rather than relying upon their “authority” as experts, challenge participants to test these ideas, ask the difficult question and learn from one another’s experience. We ask them to commit to create among themselves a learning community where risk taking is welcomed and mistakes are encouraged. “Everyone gets to make mistakes, no one gets to be wrong”, is our catch phrase. In short, everyone is a teacher and everyone is a learner.
Agree provides two comprehensive workshops in Dispute Resolution – Level 1 and 2 that satisfy the educational component of the ADR Institute of Ontario’s (ADRIO) membership requirements, and can be used towards fulfilling the prerequisites of ADRIO’s designations of Chartered Mediator (C.Med.) or Qualified Mediator (Q.Med.). These workshops also meet the LSUC requirements for CPD hours.
Organizational Conflict Approaches is a 4 day workshop effective for Human Resource professionals, organizational facilitators, and conflict management professionals looking to include organizational interventions in their constellation of services. Participants are introduced to a variety of working models and skills for group facilitation. This workshop also meets the LSUC requirements for CPD hours.
- Dispute Resolution – Level 1 – Fundamentals
- Dispute Resolution – Level 2 – Mediation
- Organizational Conflict Approaches
- Click here for our calendar of all public training courses offered by Agree trainers.
Featured Workshop
Level 1 – Fundamentals – September 18-21, 2023
Level 2 – Mediation – October 23-26, 2023
Facilitators: Rick Russell & Shelley Stirling-Boyes
Due to the ongoing concerns related to the pandemic, and the unknown future of group activities, we have decided to put our planning efforts in to delivering a quality online delivery of this workshop.
Customized In-House Workshops
Customized in-house training workshops are designed and delivered to a wide range of organizations and workplaces:
· public-sector bodies at the federal, provincial, regional or municipal level;
· private-sector businesses or large corporations;
· publicly-funded organizations in the education, health and social services sectors;
· unionized or non-unionized workplaces.
Agree delivers in-house training workshops on a broad range of topics:
· Building a Respectful Workplace
· Leading in Unionized Environments
· Interest-Based Negotiation Skills
Prior to any training, an Agree trainer will consult with your organization’s contact to define the learning objectives. All of Agree’s training workshops are comprised of well-tested learning modules and complementary topics that allow for easy customization of content appropriate to any audience and skill set. This allows us to design affordable workshops that are readily customized to your needs.
Agree’s training is always interactive and, in accordance with adult learning models, includes demonstrations, role plays, case studies, exercises and mini-lectures. Short teach pieces on specific skills are interspersed with opportunities for participants to practice the concepts through small group role plays and exercises. Participants are invited to practice common scenarios adapted from their workplace, with the trainers acting as coaches in order to provide immediate feedback.
Agree will adapt exercises and case studies based on fact scenarios provided by the organization. These exercises can be modified to reflect a variety of workplaces and skill sets (eg. front-line customer interactions, co-worker relationships, performance issues that may need to be addressed by managers, or skills to enhance joint deliverables between senior departmental leaders).
Many of the concepts that Agree teaches in our workshops are found in a book published by Agree partner, Gary Furlong titled, “The Conflict Resolution Toolbox”, 2005, Wiley and Sons. The models in the Conflict Resolution Toolbox bridge the gap between theory and practice, and provide a range of models that participants can use to communicate non-defensively, and to proactively minimize or resolve conflict in any situation.
As subject matter experts, Agree trainers can also provide impromptu demonstrations and debriefs to illustrate concepts where it is recognized the participants are experiencing difficulty, or to address specific situations raised by a participant.
Our facilitators are excellent communicators, and rather than relying upon their “authority” as experts, challenge participants to test these ideas, ask the difficult question and learn from one another’s experience. We ask them to commit to create among themselves a learning community where risk taking is welcomed and mistakes are encouraged. “Everyone gets to make mistakes, no one gets to be wrong”, is our catch phrase. In short, everyone is a teacher and everyone is a learner.
Depending on the learning objectives for the group, modules can be adapted to small intact work teams (3-4), which provides skill development in the context of the immediate workplace, or larger groups (16-24) for more general learning. While Agree trainers can be provide workshops for larger groups, the ability to effectively deliver interactive exercises and real-time feedback diminishes with larger groups. Our clients regularly provide us with feedback that the attendance of 2 trainers for groups of 16+ delivers a more effective learning experience. Agree has capacity to provide additional trainers or coaches, well-versed in the subject matter, in situations where this would add value.
Prior to a workshop, an Agree Consultant confers with your organization’s representative in order to define the learning objectives and develop an agenda that best reflects your training needs. Agree will adapt exercises and case studies based on scenarios common to your organization.
Workshops can be designed for different audiences:
· front-line staff managing customer or client service interactions;
· with co-workers or colleagues to build positive workplace relationships;
· managers addressing performance issues;
· departments with joint deliverables;
· senior leadership teams with responsibility for setting the vision, operating strategy and workplace culture.
All of Agree’s training workshops are comprised of well-tested learning modules that allow for affordable customization of content appropriate to any audience and skill set. Workshop agendas and formats, customized to your needs and learning goals, vary from one to six days.
Some of the most popular modules are:
· the dynamics of conflict;
· active listening skills,
· the Triangle of Satisfied Interests,
· Conflict Handling Modes,
· resolving conflict using interests, rights and power;
· emotions in the workplace;
· building trust.
The Next Best Step: We invite you to call our office to discuss your training needs – 1-800-524-6967.