Communication Strategies in Conflict Resolution

This course explores the pivotal role of verbal and nonverbal communication in escalating or de-escalating conflict. Drawing on psychological frameworks, learners will analyze conflict styles and practice active listening and “I” statements to facilitate resolution in personal and professional settings.

Certificate on Completion

About Course

The course “Communication Strategies in Conflict Resolution” focuses on developing essential communication skills to effectively manage and resolve conflicts in personal and professional settings. It highlights the importance of active listening, clear expression, and empathy to reduce misunderstandings and build mutual respect. Learners explore practical techniques such as breaking conflicts into manageable parts, avoiding blame, and using assertive communication to express ideas constructively. The course also emphasizes emotional control and collaboration to reach win-win solutions. Overall, it equips participants with strategies to handle disagreements calmly and strengthen relationships through effective communication.

Authorship and Attribution

This course has been curated by Riphah International University faculty and staff using publicly available third-party content and Open Educational Resources (OER) for self-paced learning. Learners will engage with curated open-access materials to achieve the course learning outcomes. All third-party content is used under open-access or fair-use policies, while any original materials are developed specifically for this learning experience.

Source and Credits:

  • Instructor: LeaderLike You! by Robert Kahn
  • Provider: YouTube (@RCKommSA)
  • License: Standard YouTube license

Source and Credits:

  • Instructor: nmsuaces
  • Provider: YouTube (@nmsuaces)
  • License: Standard YouTube license

What You'll Learn

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

  • Distinguish between the five Thomas-Kilmann conflict handling modes
  • Demonstrate active listening techniques to validate speaker’s perspective 
  • Formulate “I” statements to express needs without triggering defensiveness in others 
  •  

Prerequisites

To successfully complete this course, learners should have:

  • Prior familiarity with psychological concepts such as empathy, active listening and the basics of human emotion.
  • Ideally suited for undergraduates or professionals looking for continuing education in soft skill development.

Who Can Take This Course?

This course is designed for: 

This course is intended for undergraduate psychology students, graduate level counseling interns who want a practical and implementation focused approach to de-escalation. It is especially suited for learners who already understand basic social psychology concepts such as cognitive bias and group dynamics. Professionals in human resources, social work, community leadership and organizational management will benefit from this course’s focus on applied psychological frameworks and verbal de-escalation techniques.

Course Outline

Introduction of Psychology of Communication

Course Overview (Reading)

The Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI) Overview (Video)

Active Listening in Mediation

The Power of Acknowledgment (Video)

Restating & Reflecting (Video)

Reframing (Video)

Mastering “I” Statements and Assertiveness

“I” Messages or “I” Statements (Reading)

Course Wrap-Up

“I” Wrap Up Note (Reading)

Skills You Will Gain

Active Listening Conflict Management Empathy Skills Assertive Communication Negotiation Skills Emotional Control Problem Solving Collaborative Skills

Course Information

Duration

Less than 1 Hour

Course Information

Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Learning Mode

Fully Online (Asynchronous)

Learning Type

Self Paced

Language

Instructor/Curator

Course Instructor
  • Asma Zafar profile image
    Asma Zafar Lecturer, Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities (FSSH), Riphah International University