HR, legal & training · Short course
Negotiation Skills and Conflict Management
Understanding competing interests and working towards constructive agreements.
The programme
Programme overview
Expanded indicative outline. The subject areas are described below; proposed activities and final delivery requirements are confirmed with Ratomac before booking.
Understanding competing interests and working towards constructive agreements.
The programme brings together preparing negotiations, negotiation dialogue, conflict analysis and agreement building. The expanded outline below shows how these areas can be explored through explanation, discussion and the preparation of relevant work products.
A proposed workshop runs through the programme: Two departments disagree about access to a shared resource and discussions have become personal. Participants would examine the situation in stages, use the information provided and explain the basis of their decisions. The workshop is fictional and can be adapted when the final training plan is agreed.
Who should attend
Is this programme for you?
This outline is relevant to the following roles. Suitability and any formal entry requirements should be checked for the selected programme.
- Managers, supervisors and professionals handling workplace negotiations.
- Individuals preparing to take on responsibilities in this area.
- Teams seeking a shared approach to the work described in the programme.
Purpose of the learning
Intended learning outcomes
- Prepare a negotiation brief separating interests from stated positions.
- Practise questions and proposals that explore workable options.
- Analyse the behaviours escalating the fictional conflict.
- Draft an agreement with responsibilities and a review mechanism.
- Combine the module outputs into a reasoned response to the programme’s workplace scenario.
5 learning blocks
Detailed programme outline
01Preparing negotiations
This part of the programme examines preparing negotiations, with attention to interests, options and priorities. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Interests.
- Options.
- Priorities.
- Applied work: prepare a negotiation brief separating interests from stated positions.
Illustrative practical exercise
Prepare a negotiation brief separating interests from stated positions. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
02Negotiation dialogue
This part of the programme examines negotiation dialogue, with attention to questions, proposals and concessions. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Questions.
- Proposals.
- Concessions.
- Applied work: practise questions and proposals that explore workable options.
Illustrative practical exercise
Practise questions and proposals that explore workable options. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
03Conflict analysis
This part of the programme examines conflict analysis, with attention to causes, behaviours and communication barriers. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Causes.
- Behaviours.
- Communication barriers.
- Applied work: analyse the behaviours escalating the fictional conflict.
Illustrative practical exercise
Analyse the behaviours escalating the fictional conflict. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
04Agreement building
This part of the programme examines agreement building, with attention to workable commitments and follow-up. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Workable commitments.
- Follow-up.
- Applied work: draft an agreement with responsibilities and a review mechanism.
Illustrative practical exercise
Draft an agreement with responsibilities and a review mechanism. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
05Integrated workplace workshop
Two departments disagree about access to a shared resource and discussions have become personal. The final workshop connects the earlier work rather than treating each topic as an isolated activity.
Topics to explore
- Bring together the outputs from the earlier modules into one coherent response to the scenario.
- Check that the recommendation addresses the original problem and is supported by the information available.
- Identify responsibilities, dependencies and matters that require specialist input or further evidence.
- Present the proposed response and revise it after questions from the facilitator and other participants.
Illustrative practical exercise
Prepare a concise presentation for the fictional organisation. Include the proposed response, the evidence supporting it and the decisions still required. Finish with a reflection on which aspects could be relevant to your own work.
From discussion to application
How the programme could be delivered
The proposed learning approach combines facilitator-led explanation, discussion of the subject areas and guided work on the fictional scenario. Each module produces a practical output that can be reviewed and improved.
Participants can work individually or in small groups to compare interpretations, explain their decisions and identify missing information. Feedback focuses on the connection between the task, the evidence used and the proposed response.
The final workshop brings the module outputs together. Ratomac will confirm the delivery format, learning resources, entry requirements and any formal assessment or certification arrangements for the selected programme.
Discuss your requirements
Dates, duration & arrangements
Contact Ratomac to agree the final programme, duration and delivery format. Include your preferred timing, location and whether the enquiry is for yourself or a team.
Discuss this programme ↗Indicative outline for discussion. The final syllabus is agreed with Ratomac before booking. The expanded learning activities and workplace scenario are original proposals for discussion with Ratomac.