Professional course: Constructive confrontation

Learning how to say what matters, even when it feels uncomfortable. Speak up clearly, without losing the connection or yourself.

How do you handle confrontation?

A bossy colleague keeps pushing a really bad idea. Your manager tells you you do not deserve a raise. And once again, you end up with the least interesting tasks in the project.
What do you do? Do you give in? Avoid the conversation altogether? Or push your point through, hoping for the best.
Confrontation is rarely comfortable. But avoiding it comes at a cost. There is another option. You can learn how to confront in a way that feels honest, clear, and constructive.

Learn how to confront

When handled with care, confrontation can open the door to better conversations and stronger working relationships. This training helps you find words for what you need, and the courage to speak them out loud.

You explore how verbal and non-verbal communication shape difficult conversations. How to express yourself clearly, without attacking or withdrawing. And how to stay present when things feel tense. Instead of shying away from conflict or forcing your way through, you learn how to engage with confrontation in a more thoughtful way.

Confronting with skill

In this one-day training, you explore how to confront others with more confidence and tact. You will discover what your own conflict style is and what effect this has on your work, relations and fulfillment.
Together with a small group of peers, you practise different ways of setting boundaries, expressing disagreement and improving the quality of your conversations. Not to win an argument, but to stay true to yourself and draw more energy from your work.

In this training, you will:

• Learn when to speak up, and when not to.
• Practise expressing yourself honestly and tactfully, so your message is clear.
• Gain insight into what holds you back from saying what matters.
• Explore practical ways of handling difficult conversations.
• Apply these approaches to situations from your own work.
• Build confidence in engaging with confrontation more openly.

Practical information

Price: € 695,- (excluding VAT)
Professional development budget: Most of our participants use their professional development budget for this training. Ask your employer whether they are willing to cover the cost. Contact amsterdam@theschooloflife.com for a quote.
Language: English
Duration: 1 full day, from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, including a homemade, vegetarian lunch
Location: The School of Life, Frederiksplein 54, Amsterdam
Traveling tips: Travel by public transport, ride your bike, or use one of the Park & Ride locations in Amsterdam
Group size: Minimum of 5, maximum of 15 participants
Study load: No mandatory homework. However, we encourage you to test and apply the techniques in your daily work after the training.
Experience level: Open to everyone

Amir Carmel is an organisational psychologist, group facilitator and mediator, focusing on the human side of work. He mediates work place conflicts, facilitates brave conversations in teams, and support leaders in their personal growth. He teaches practical skills for difficult conversations, communication, and resilience with an approach that combines honesty, depth, playfulness and focus on results.