Introduction to Conflict Resolution
Dealing with Difficult People

Most people don’t struggle with conflict because they’re careless or confrontational — they struggle because they care, and they don’t want to make things worse.

When a conversation feels tense, uncertain, or emotionally charged, it’s easy to either avoid it entirely or step into it with a knot in your stomach.

This course exists to help with that.

Introduction to Conflict Resolution: Dealing with Difficult People offers simple, grounded tools for approaching hard conversations with more clarity, confidence, and steadiness. The focus shifts from simply winning arguments to staying connected, reducing strain, and communicating in ways that are respectful and effective.

This course offers simple, practical tools that help conversations feel more manageable and less draining.

When you're ready, here are a few ways to join us:

This course may be a good fit if you’ve ever found yourself thinking:

• “I want to address this, but I don’t know how without upsetting them.”

• “I keep replaying conversations in my head and wishing I’d said something differently.”

• “I try to give feedback, but it either escalates or doesn’t land.”

• “I feel stuck between wanting to be respectful and wanting to be honest.”

• “I avoid certain people because every conversation feels heavier than it should.”

• “I’m tired of tension simmering just beneath the surface.”

If any of this feels familiar, you’re not alone. This course offers practical tools that can genuinely help.

About the Course

Dealing with difficult people and navigating conflict is a challenge many face daily — both at work and at home. This two-day workshop offers practical tools to help reduce stress, improve communication, and respond to conflict in healthier, more effective ways.

This training is a foundational step in building stronger, more collaborative environments.

By the end of this course, you will:

• Reflect on your own responses to conflict through real-life case studies

• Develop and practice communication tools for navigating tough conversations

• Strengthen your ability to proactively resolve disagreements and prevent escalation

• Learn a step-by-step process for repairing misunderstandings and recovering from missteps

 Here’s what the learning experience looks like:
• A calm, supportive environment
• Short teaching segments with practical examples
• Time to reflect on your own real-life situations
• Opportunities to practice new tools in low-pressure ways
• Space for questions, discussion, and shared learning

You won’t be asked to perform or share anything you’re not comfortable sharing. The focus is on giving you realistic tools that you can carry back into your everyday conversations.

About Mediation Services

Mediation Services is a community-based charity in Winnipeg with over 45 years of experience helping individuals, workplaces, and families navigate conflict.

All revenue from training is reinvested into accessible community programs, making it possible for more people to receive support when they need it most.

Our approach is relational, trauma-informed, and grounded in real-world experience.

When you join us for training, you’re also supporting conflict resolution resources for the broader community.