Course: The Art of Negotiation in Workplace Disputes
Negotiation & Workplace Dispute Resolution Course Outline
Target Audience and Level
Emerging leaders and HR managers in medium to large Australian organisations, including some frontline supervisors. These are people who make actual people decisions daily and need practical, learnable tools to deal with disputes before they grow.
Duration and Format
- 3 × 2 hour virtual live sessions
- Consolidation: half day face to face practical workshop , Sydney or Melbourne , with additional possibilities for team cohorts to choose midway
- Follow up: 30 minute virtual coaching clinic per person, 4 weeks after completion
- Price point practical constraint: $495 including GST per person for 3 × 2 hour virtual programme; $395 for half day face to face with commitments for outside metro areas
- Locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane , extend to Perth or Adelaide for groups of 10 or more
Delivery Mode
Hybrid: virtual live core learning; face to face for practice and roleplay consolidation.
Rationale and High Level Outcomes
This is not a soft skill; this is a productivity switch and a retention insurance.
Expected outcomes within 3 months:
- Up to 25% reduction in grievance escalations per participating teams (target metric)
- Up to 40% increase in manager confidence handling disputes without needing HR referral (self reported)
- 20% or more improvement in participant satisfaction post resolution scores (including counterpart satisfaction)
HR studies from CPP Inc. (2008) calculated global organisational costs in hundreds of billions; many senior HR professionals report productivity losses from unresolved disputes , treat this as investment, not expense.
Module by Module
Pre Course Diagnostics
10 minute self assessment on conflict style, recent disputes, and biggest negotiation fear; 10 minute manager survey on local dispute trends via HR: current number of open grievances and average time to resolution from manager and Business perspective.
Session 1: Foundations: What Negotiation Is , 2 hours
- Differentiating positions and interests
- Finding common ground
- Understanding emotional and power dynamics in workplace settings
Objectives include:
- Active listening workshop exercises: "Listen carefully! I will guide as required , using good examples and challenging scenarios to practice skills"
- Three practical examples: one merger situation, one performance issue, one deadline conflict
- Building foundation skills for effective dispute resolution in the workplace
Learning activities focus on real world scenarios that participants encounter in their daily roles, with emphasis on practical application rather than theory. Participants learn to identify underlying interests behind stated positions, a critical skill for resolving workplace conflicts effectively. The session includes interactive exercises where participants practice these skills with immediate feedback from facilitators and peers.
The foundation module establishes the framework for all subsequent learning, ensuring participants understand both the strategic and tactical elements of workplace negotiation. Special attention is given to the Australian workplace context, including relevant legislation and cultural considerations that impact how disputes are managed in local Organisations.