Practical Tools for Polarized, High Stakes Engagement
A specialized Level 2 course that equips practitioners with practical strategies for managing conflict and high emotion in public participation processes, so tension does not stall progress or erode trust.
Working with Conflict and High Emotion is a Level 2 course that equips practitioners with practical strategies for managing conflict and high emotion in public participation processes. Left unaddressed, uncontrolled tension can stall progress, damage relationships, and erode the trust an engagement process depends on.
Grounded in IAP2's five engagement foundations, this course gives you tools to de-escalate emotion, apply conflict transformation strategies, and strengthen your facilitation skills in polarized, high stakes situations.
High conflict and emotional intensity are realities in today's engagement landscape, shaped by misinformation and competing values. This course prepares you to respond with confidence and trust building approaches, even when the conversation gets difficult.
Grounded in proven frameworks, designed for immediate application, built for the toughest rooms you'll face.
Built on IAP2's five engagement foundations and Glasl's conflict escalation model, giving you a shared, tested language for de-escalation.
Leave with concrete strategies for polarized conflict transformation and misinformation response you can apply the very next day.
Strengthen your facilitation skills for high emotion situations, so you can model calm, de-escalating behavior when it matters most.
Better managed conflict means stronger trust, fewer stalled processes, and better outcomes for the communities and decision makers you serve.
Measurable skills and confidence you'll develop and take back to your work.
This Level 2 course is designed for those already working in engagement who need practical tools for the hardest conversations.
Practitioners who already have a P2 foundation and need practical tools for conflict and high emotion
Those managing complex engagement processes where tension and polarization are likely
Professionals managing teams and complex relationships across a project or organization
Anyone navigating misinformation, competing values, or high stakes public conversations
Sessions run live online over Zoom, with new dates added throughout the year. Head to our events page to see the current schedule and register.
Everything you need to know before registering for this course.
Fundamentals of P2 is recommended but not required. This course assumes some familiarity with public participation practice, so many participants complete Fundamentals first.
Level 2 practitioners and experienced engagement professionals who need practical tools for managing conflict, high emotion, and polarization in their work.
Sessions run live online over Zoom, delivered across four sessions so you can apply what you learn between meetings.
Yes. Working with Conflict and High Emotion is an elective course within IAP2 Canada's Learning Pathway and counts toward the Certificate in Public Participation.
Yes. Members save on all IAP2 Canada training, including this course.
Working with Conflict and High Emotion is an elective course within IAP2 Canada's structured Learning Pathway, helping practitioners build the practical skills needed for ethical, effective engagement at every level, from Fundamentals through CP3 certification.
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