The ELA Blog

In today's fast-paced world, it's common to feel overwhelmed, struggling to balance our daily responsibilities. Stress can creep into both our professional and personal lives, often leading to conflicts in high-pressure situations. Our course offered participants a valuable opportunity to explore practical tools and theoretical insights for effectively managing and resolving both stress and conflicts.

The new edition of the course “Stress and Conflict Management: the way to resilience and satisfaction” took place in Tenerife from 28/08/2023 to 02/09/2023. The participants came from all across Europe, with Michaela Janosova from My jump in Slovakia, Anja Weinacker from GS Sundheim in Germany, Magdalena Bigos and Paulina Hacia from Szkoła Podstawowa z Oddziałami Integracyjnymi in Germany, Silvia Peron from IIS "P.Scalcerle" in Italy, Elisabeth Horn from BSZ Bad Windsheim in Germany, Martyna Holecka and Aleksandra Głogowska-Bąk from Szkola Podstawowa dla Chlopcow KUZNICA in Poland. 

On the course's first day, participants delved into the concept of stress through group brainstorming sessions. Stress, stemming from various factors like physical, environmental, family, or work-related issues, was explored in-depth. Interestingly, the course highlighted how small doses of stress, known as Eustress, can positively motivate us, such as when it pushes us to meet deadlines or achieve our goals, in contrast to Distress, which has a negative impact.

Throughout the course, attendees acquired a range of cognitive and behavioral strategies tailored to address workplace stressors. They honed their planning and time management skills through engaging group activities. Additionally, they practiced techniques like deep breathing, muscle relaxation, and visualization to enhance stress management.

Empathy emerged as a pivotal topic during the course, especially concerning conflict resolution. While demonstrating empathy can be challenging, particularly when we haven't experienced the same emotions as others, participants learned how to cultivate and distinguish it from other responses.

Effective communication was another essential skill discussed. Participants delved into different communication styles and engaged in group activities where each member played a role in resolving conflicts. This experience illustrated that conflicts, while challenging, can also be opportunities for growth and learning, a lesson readily applicable in both workplaces and classrooms.

The course's diverse cultural backgrounds provided a unique opportunity for participants to learn from shared experiences. Most significantly, it emphasized that participants possess the tools to manage stressful situations and that conflicts can sometimes yield positive outcomes.

Discover more about this course here.