Workplace conflicts, though inevitable, are an uncomfortable situation for those involved in it that can quickly escalate into a major problem if left unaddressed. As such, conflicts need to be managed effectively. In this course, participants will learn strategies and practical tools of managing workplace conflict effectively.
This course is available for StrongerBC future skills grant between September 1, 2025 - February 28, 2026. The course must have a start date between Sept 1 - Feb 28 to be eligible for funding. Please contact CPS@kpu.ca on how to apply.
What You Will Learn
Through hands-on learning, participants will:
- Reflect on their own strengths and opportunities for conflict management
- Learn about different types of workplace conflict and conflict management strategies
- Apply the five core conflict management strategies to different workplace scenarios
How You Will Learn:
You will join live, online, instructor-led sessions that blend theory with real-world application:
- Expert-Led Workshops: Learn directly from a seasoned practitioner.
- Hands-On Case Studies: Apply frameworks in small-group exercises.
- Personalized Feedback: Receive tailored coaching to refine your work.
- Live Q&A & Networking: Dive deeper with peers and the instructor.
- Ongoing Resources: Access slide decks, templates and an online forum to reinforce your learning.
Who This Course is for
This course is ideal for individuals across all sectors who are responsible for managing people, navigating team dynamics, or supporting workplace culture, including:
People managers and supervisors looking to address tension early and improve team cohesion
HR professionals and team leads tasked with resolving interpersonal or organizational conflicts
Employees in high-stress or cross-functional roles where communication breakdowns are common
New or aspiring leaders wanting to build confidence and competence in difficult conversations
Nonprofit, government, and private sector professionals working in collaborative or client-facing roles
If you’re in a role where misunderstandings, friction, or personality clashes can impact productivity, this course is for you.
Why take this course:
Unresolved workplace conflicts are a top cause of disengagement, turnover, and lost productivity—and most employees don’t feel equipped to handle them
Effective conflict management is a top soft skill employers value in today’s hybrid, high-pressure work environments
BC workplaces are becoming more diverse and fast-paced, making communication breakdowns more common and more costly
Conflict doesn’t need to be destructive—with the right tools, it can strengthen trust, collaboration, and innovation
Organizations with strong conflict resolution cultures report better morale, stronger teams, and fewer HR incidents
Managing conflict isn’t just a leadership skill—it’s a workplace survival skill in today’s interconnected and multi-generational teams
Instructor Bio
Ulrich Paschen, M.A.
Ulrich Paschen hails from Germany, where he received a Master’s degree in business from the University of Potsdam. He also holds an MA in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and is currently enrolled in the PhD program for Industrial Marketing at the Luleå University of Technology in Sweden. Prior to concentrating on his academic career, Ulrich has had a diverse business management career in Germany and Canada, gathering negotiation and conflict management skills in very different environments from family-owned businesses to multinational corporations, from retail to manufacturing, and from the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games to Children’s TV characters.
Jeannette Paschen, PhD
Jeannette Paschen has been a faculty member at KPU’s Melville School of Business since 2018 where she has been teaching in the Marketing, Entrepreneurship and Business Management departments. Born and raised in Germany, Jeannette earned her PhD from the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden in 2020. She also holds an MBA from the University of Potsdam and an MA Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Jeannette also has teaching experience at other post-secondary institutions in BC, including at Douglas College, SFU and UNBC.
Prior to joining KPU, Jeannette has held various progressive roles in a variety of industries, including healthcare, tourism and gambling in Germany and Canada. Her roles spanned product management, marketing management, analytics and marketing research in private and public organizations.
In addition, Jeannette is very active in research and her research interests include understanding individual and organizational implications of emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and NFTs/. She has more than 30+ publications in peer-reviewed journals and presented at various business conferences in North America and Europe.