About
This one-day, integrated learning experience combines two vital supervisory disciplines—Resolving Conflicts and Managing Complaints—to provide team leads, supervisors, and managers with practical tools for immediate application. By pairing these sessions, the workshop highlights how conflict resolution and effective complaint handling are inherently linked, helping participants strengthen their ability to address interpersonal friction, uncover underlying issues, and foster a transparent, constructive team culture.
Course Details
- Format: Live, in-person at the University of Tennessee Space Institute in Tullahoma, TN
- Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- Time: 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. (CT)
- Instructor: Tim Waldo
- Cost: $300 per person
- Meals: Lunch and light snacks provided by the UTSI Cafeteria
To Register
Please contact:
Meghan Morris
Outreach Coordinator
Email: mmorris@utsi.edu
Phone: 931-393-7213
Deadline
The deadline to register is Monday, October 26, 2026.
Course Description
The workshop focuses on building foundational capabilities designed to improve organizational performance and interpersonal relationships. Participants will explore practical frameworks to recognize team conflict phases, distinguish between work-related and people-related disputes, and address employee complaints constructively without ignoring or dismissing them. This session is ideal for those seeking to sharpen their management skills, handle difficult workplace friction with confidence, and guide teams toward collaborative resolutions.
Key Learning Objectives & Highlights:
Participants will explore the essentials of leadership and communicating and learn how to apply these concepts to improve organizational performance. You will learn:
- Conflict Impact: Explore the negative effects that unresolved conflicts have on work, team members, and overall organizational performance.
- Conflict Phases & Timing: Identify the four phases of conflict and determine the most appropriate time to intervene.
- Conflict Categorization: Distinguish between work-related and people-related conflicts to dictate the proper handling approach.
- Collaborative Resolution: Establish a structured, collaborative process to encourage team member participation during disputes.
- Complaint Acknowledgment: Recognize that all team member complaints must be addressed rather than ignored or dismissed.
- Root Cause Identification: Identify potential underlying issues and symptoms to determine the true reasons for a complaint.
- Active Listening: Use active listening skills to maintain control, verify understanding, and establish objective facts during difficult conversations.
- Structured Meeting Execution: Utilize specific skill points to plan and conduct effective meetings with individuals or groups to resolve problems successfully.
About the Instructor
Tim Waldo serves as a Workforce Development Specialist and Consultant for the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services (UT CIS), leveraging his extensive background in both the manufacturing and service sectors to help Tennessee manufacturers navigate complex labor challenges. He partners directly with industrial organizations to design and implement customized workplace development strategies, comprehensive leadership training programs, and targeted continuous improvement initiatives aimed at maximizing human capital and operational performance.