Non-violent communication / strategic workplace conflict resolution training?

[benjamingr]

Hey!

In the past the Node.js moderation team went through Conflict Management Training offered by the Node.js foundation through Rockdale College. I believe @hackygolucky was the organizer of that around ±5 years ago.

I think it was useful and it would be beneficial to offer this training again to the projects' moderation teams (and possibly the OpenJS org moderation team when/if it gets established) as a lot of people have joined (or left) since then.

The training provided useful de-escalation techniques, tips on how to be more empathetic in issues and tools for managing constructive conflict.

I'm just posting this here to bring it up, if there are already initiatives/efforts in this area that I'm unaware of then apologies for my poor research skills :)

Happy to also provide information about the training last time in case that's useful.

[benjamingr]

I'll ping the Node.js members @Trott (who attended the training last time and may have feedback) and @joesepi as well as voting members @eemeli @tobie and @mhdawson @ljharb and @rginn as the director.

I have no idea if this visibility/pings is useful so by all means if I tagged someone I shouldn't have or there is a process I'm doing wrong please call me out on it so I can learn.

[ovflowd]

Also, +1 from my side, I believe we need to be better when communicating and bringing bias.

[mhdawson]

+1 from me as well. It would be good to have that available on a regular basis for those who are interested.

[Trott]

No opinion on the exact course/training/materials that should be offered, but something like this would be valuable, whether it's the exact training that we had several years ago or something else that is similar. +1

I'm not sure what would be involved in getting it set up, but hopefully @rginn or others know (and also if we already have something available and we just don't know about it!).

[tobie]

I'm curious about the format of the course @benjamingr attended. I've found self-paced courses to be worth little more than helping meet compliance requirements for this kind of topic. imho, this tends to be the kind of topic where in person training is much more effective (whether onsite or online). Curious what others think.

[rginn]

I'm attending diversity workshops for Linux Foundation staff this month led by Dr. Gloria Chance. https://www.linkedin.com/in/drgloriachance/. Topics include Psychological Safety and Being an Ally. I'll report back on the trainings and explore options for our OpenJS communities.

[hackygolucky]

oh hi @benjamingr! I couldn't find the vendor name in my notes so thanks for that. The training was definitely in conflict management(so, lots of communication skills and patterns recognized!) and the structure was many weeks of Zoom meetings and sometimes breakout Zoom rooms, with some homework as part of the training. It was a great practice for folks on the Moderation team for sure, and I still value what they walked us through and use it in management and my day to day. It's especially great for anyone in a perceived position of power(such as the CPC)

[tobie]

Both of these sound great.

[benjamingr]

I've found self-paced courses to be worth little more than helping meet compliance requirements for this kind of topic. imho, this tends to be the kind of topic where in person training is much more effective (whether onsite or online).

I agree with this sentiment and I thought the fact the course was "live" (on zoom) with real instructors and exercises was important.

[Relequestual]

Very interested in this!
Also need to find people to form our CoC review committee.

[tobie]

Also need to find people to form our CoC review committee.

FYI, @Relequestual, you can chose to delegate this work to the CPC, either temporarily or permanently.