Culture Change Training
Pause, Process, Proceed:
Practical De-Escalation Skills
Build a workplace where people handle conflict with confidence
Our de-escalation training empowers staff at all levels to manage conflict effectively — before things spiral out of control. Participants learn practical tools to handle difficult situations, reduce stress, and promote a healthier workplace culture.
About the Training
What is de-escalation?
This training empowers workers to use de-escalation — the process of lowering the intensity of conflict before it gets worse. It’s about staying calm, reading the room, and using communication tools to prevent things from getting worse.
This training focuses on real-life workplace situations, like:
- Tense conversations between coworkers
- Difficult feedback conversations
- Misunderstandings that create tension
- Responding to frustration or anger — your own or someone else’s
How this Training Helps
Participants will:
- Understand what causes conflict and why it happens
- Recognize your own reactions and how to stay calm in stressful situations
- Learn simple communication strategies to prevent conflicts from getting worse
- Practice ways to defuse tense situations
- Take responsibility and find solutions to resolve conflict
Conflict is a normal part of working with others — but it doesn’t have to be destructive. This training gives people the tools to handle it effectively and respectfully.
Audience
This training is designed for anyone in the workplace, including:
- Frontline and customer-facing staff
- Managers and supervisors
- Human Resources professionals
- Union reps or shop stewards
- Senior leadership and executives
Whether you’re navigating challenging conversations or leading a team, these tools help build trust and resilience across your organization.
Why it Matters
Conflict is inevitable. How we respond to it makes all the difference. Our training:
- Reduces stress and workplace tension
- Promotes emotional awareness and communication
- Builds respectful relationships across teams
- Equips leaders and staff with shared language and tools
Training Options:
All sessions are delivered privately to organizations. Not available for public or individual enrollment.
Train-The-Trainer: Prepare internal facilitators to lead de-escalation training within your organization.
- Duration: 2 full days
- Includes: In-depth content + facilitation skills
- Interactive practice sessions
- Includes participant materials & facilitator guide
- Cost: Contact us for pricing and availability.
Half-Day Session: A 3-hour interactive training focused on communication, emotional awareness, and practical strategies.
- Duration: 3 hours
- Core de-escalation principles
- Situational examples
- Cost: Contact us for pricing and availability.
90-Minute Session: A condensed session covering the basics of conflict and key de-escalation techniques.
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Learn foundational skills
- Understand when and how to de-escalate
- Cost: Contact us for pricing and availability.
FAQ
Have questions about how the training works, what to expect, or how to get started? You’re in the right place. Below are some of the most common questions we hear from organizations. If you don’t see your question here, feel free to reach out – we’re happy to help.
What is the ideal group size for a training session?
The ideal group size is 15-20 participants for the train-the-trainer, and 15-30 participants for the half-day or 90-minute session.
Can the training be customized for our workplace?
Absolutely. Starting with a needs assessment, we tailor examples and content to meet the realities and challenges of your specific work environment. Content customization can be discussed during the planning process.
Do you offer virtual training sessions?
We don’t offer virtual training sessions. Our focus is on in-person delivery because that’s where we have the biggest impact.
Can we book multiple sessions for different teams?
Definitely. Many organizations choose to roll out training in waves across departments or locations. We’re happy to work with you on a schedule that fits your needs.
Can we combine this training with your other services?
Yes! Organizations are encouraged to combine de-escalation training with our other offerings to create a more comprehensive approach to workplace safety and culture.
For example, Be More Than a Bystander focuses on shifting workplace culture and empowering employeesto speak up and take action against bullying, harassment, and violence. Leadership training, on the other hand, equips managers and supervisors a comprehensive understanding of violence in the workplace.
Where is the training held?
We bring the training to you – whether that’s on-site at your workplace, or at an off-site venue. We’re based in British Columbia and regularly deliver in-person sessions throughout the province – but we’re also available to travel and provide training across Canada and internationally. Let us know what you’re thinking.
How far in advance should we get in touch?
It depends on the complexity of your organization and how much customization you’re looking for. If your team has unique needs or you’re hoping to combine multiple training sessions, we recommend reaching out as early as possible.
The best way to get an accurate timeline is to connect with us directly—we’ll talk through your goals and give you a clear sense of next steps and scheduling.
How do we get started?
Reach out through our contact form and we’ll set up a consultation to learn about your goals, walk through the options, and help you choose the right format for your team.
Additional Services
In addition to our specialized Human Resources Training, EVA BC offers a range of services designed to support organizations on their journey to becoming inclusive workplaces. These services include:
- Be More Than a Bystander: Empower your workforce to intervene and make a positive impact at all levels of your organization
- Human Resources Training: Equip your HR team with the knowledge and skills to respond to disclosures of gender-based violence in a trauma-informed and empathetic manner
- Policy Review for Trauma-Informed Practices: Ensure your workplace policies align with trauma-informed principles.
- Leadership Training: Build up leaders to prevent and address gender-based violence through bystander intervention
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Training: Build cultural competency and impacts of discrimination within the workplace.
- Custom Training
Contact Us
Ready to bring De-Escalation training to your team?
Or download our program brochure for a printable overview.
Have any other questions? Email: bystander@endingviolence.org
