Managing conflicts

As a researcher, you work in a multi-disciplinary context with a diversity in stakeholders: supervisor(s), peers, students you guide, lab technicians, external stakeholders,… Conflicts are an inseparable part of working together, so being able to give direction to conflicts in a constructive way is an important skill for you as a researcher.

In order to adequately deal with conflicts, you first have to be able to recognize a conflict in an early stage. In addition, your own mindset plays a major part: conflicts often trigger an automatic, unhelpful reflex to analysis ("Who is the cause of the conflict? Who is wrong?"). This is a mindset that will most probably lead to getting (even) deeper into the conflict. The approach needed to manage conflicts in a constructive and trustful way is to find a good balance between:

• dealing with differences in a non-judgmental way, and
• inviting parties involved to work towards a common solution and future cooperation.

In this training, given by Wendy Van den Bulck (True Colours), basic insights of a solution focused approach are applied to conflict cases of the participants. Some ingredients are: recognizing conflicts in time, recognizing stages of conflict and knowing what you can and cannot do in which stage, creating common ground, the solution focused checklist for conflict management and breaking through fixed patterns.

The training will incorporate interactive teaching, experiential exercises, self-reflection, peer exchange and learning (both in plenary sessions and subgroups), as well as hands-on practice through simulations based on participants' real-life cases. This approach ensures maximum transfer to your own work context.

Learning outcomes

After having attended this workshop, you will be able to...

• recognize and manage different kinds of conflicts,
• recognize the different stages of conflict escalation and know what the adequate conflict management style is in the different stages,
• mediate a conflict, using a solution focused checklist of conflict management,
• create common ground between different parties involved, also when these parties seem to have contrasting interests,
• identify the different parties that are involved in a conflict, and detect what position(s) they take in / regarding the conflict,
• influence these stakeholders in a result oriented and a solution focused way, in order to create opportunities to solve the conflict,
• deal with resistance in a constructive, future oriented way and break through fixed patterns,
• recognize differences in communication styles and find out what is needed to make sure that messages are conveyed and received as they were intended,
• go for open communication and clarity, instead of sticking to assumptions (Connective Clarity).

Competences

An important part of preparing for any further professional step is becoming (more) aware of the competences you have developed and/or want to develop. In the current workshop, the following competences from the UHasselt competency overview are actively dealt with:

• interpersonal competences:
  • assertiveness
  • oral communication
  • persuasion
  • stakeholder awareness
• personal effectiveness:
  • self-confidence
  • perseverance
  • flexibility

For whom?

• PhD students & postdocs
• 12 places available

When and where?

• June 13, 2025 - 09:00-17:00
• location: Campus Hasselt, building Old Prison, room D1.1 (Yellow room)

Preparation?

Two weeks before the training day, you will receive an intake questionnaire by e-mail (don’t forget to check your spam box!). This allows you to indicate your specific learning needs and submit two cases you’d like to explore further during the training. Based on your responses, the trainer will gain insight into your needs and tailor the programme as much as possible to match them.

Registration?

• Register here from February 27 until May 14, 2025.
• As places are limited, registering does not automatically imply that you will be able to participate. You will be notified by email after the registration deadline has passed.
• Please cancel your registration at least one week in advance in case you cannot make it (cf. cancellation & no-show policy).

Acknowledged as?

• DS BSH: category 'career management & personal development' - workshop on personal development
• DS HLS: category 'transferable skills' - compulsory elective course
• DS ST: category 'career & personal development' - course about personal development