Working with workplace conflict

Building confidence and capability to understand, assess, and respond to workplace conflict.

Conflict is a normal part of working life. Difficult conversations, recurring tensions, disagreements about priorities, communication breakdowns, strained working relationships, and concerns that seem never to be fully resolved are familiar experiences in many workplaces.

Yet conflict is often addressed before it is properly understood. We react to what is most visible, focus on the presenting issue, or rely on approaches that provide only temporary relief.

This practical and highly interactive programme is designed to help participants develop greater confidence and capability in working with workplace conflict. Rather than focusing only on conflict-handling techniques, the course develops a structured approach to understanding conflict situations, exercising sound judgment, and responding effectively.

The course is also offered as an optional foundation course to the negotiation skills course.

When and where?

8, 9 and 11 March 2027 (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday) and 15 and 16 March 2027 (Monday and Tuesday), 14:00 to 17:00 SAST

This course will be held remotely, most likely on Zoom - exact details will be sent to registered participants a few days before the course.

Course outline

Participants will learn how to:

Understand what may be contributing to a conflict beyond the presenting issue
Identify the organisational, interpersonal, and work-related factors shaping a situation
Recognise recurring patterns that cause conflict to persist or re-emerge
Assess what requires attention, what can wait, and how to respond appropriately
Communicate more effectively in situations of disagreement, tension, and uncertainty
Engage constructively with difficult workplace conversations

Throughout the programme, participants will work with realistic workplace scenarios, practical exercises, and structured discussion. Participants are also encouraged to bring examples and challenges from their own workplaces, creating opportunities to reflect on real situations, test possible responses, and learn from the experience and perspectives of others.

By the end of the programme, participants will have a practical framework for understanding workplace conflict, greater confidence in handling difficult situations, and a clearer sense of how to respond in ways that are constructive, proportionate, and effective.

Download an extract from the course manual to find out more about one of the topics that will be covered.

Who will benefit from this course?

This course is intended for managers, team leaders, supervisors, HR and employee relations practitioners, employee representatives, and professionals working in conflict-prone environments.
The course is also offered as an optional foundation course to the negotiation skills course.

Presenter

David Woolfrey is a practising attorney and an experienced trainer and practitioner in conflict and dispute resolution. He brings a practical and reflective approach to training, combining years of legal practice with deep experience in workplace mediation, organisational conflict interventions, and the design of dispute resolution systems. David is known for his ability to translate complex theory into useful, everyday tools — and for creating space for learners to examine their own patterns and build real-world confidence in working with conflict. He has worked with managers, HR professionals, trade union officials, and others tasked with resolving disputes and fostering healthier workplace relationships.

How much?

R9,525 per person

Certificate

A digital certificate of attendance from UCT will be issued to those who attend the full course.

Please note that the digital certificate can only be viewed on a secure portal. It cannot be downloaded or printed. You will have the option of ordering a hard copy of the certificate at your own cost, including the cost of the courier fee. More information is available here.

No certificate will be issued without the full course fee having been received. Please allow up to three weeks after the end of the course for certificates to be processed.

How to sign up

Complete and submit the registration form. You will then be given the payment information. Please note that registrations will not be accepted until payment has been made.

One or two days before the course, we will send you the Zoom link. You will need to register and use a password to enter the virtual classroom.

Registrations close three days before the course starts.

Download the brochure.