Mastering Emotional Control to Manage Stressful Situations

​Stressful situations arise in both our professional and personal lives, making it challenging to avoid conflict when in a high-pressure environment. Nowadays, it is common to feel overwhelmed and believe that managing daily tasks is beyond our reach. In this course, participants were given the opportunity to learn about tools to manage and overcome conflict and stressful situations through both theoretical lessons and practical activities.

​The new edition of the course “Stress and Conflict Management: the way to resilience and satisfaction” took place in Palermo from 12/05/2024 to 18/05/2024. The participants came from all across Europe, with Marit van Wees-Slagt from Keizer Karel College, Netherlands; Merike Kaus from Tallinn 21st School in Estonia; Aparicio Lydia and Giraud Karelle, France, from Lycée Professionnel Albert Londres. Participants coming from Iceland: Hallur Örn Jónsson, Óli Njáll Ingólfsson, Hulda Sigtryggsdóttir, Nanna Kristjánsdóttir, Hanna Lilja Jóhannsdóttir, from Commercial College of Iceland; Leonor Guerra and Joana Sesifredo from Agrupamento de Escolas de Vila Viçosa, Portugal; from Lycée Sacré Coeur, France: Stéphanie Duros Gilardeau, Nathalie Guinard Warin, Dominique Saout-Desance and Marylène Picard. From Finland, Anu Skyttä, Matinkylä lukio / Espoo.

Participants began by reflecting on the meaning of the word stress through group brainstorming. Small amounts of stress can lead to positive outcomes, such as helping us achieve goals or meet deadlines. However, stress is caused by a variety of factors: physical, environmental, family-related, or work-related. For this reason, participants learned to distinguish between Distress (negative) and Eustress (positive).

​Empathy, defined and discussed during the course, is a crucial skill for managing conflicts. Demonstrating an empathic response can be challenging, especially if we haven't shared the same experiences as the other person. However, empathy can be practiced, and participants learned how to distinguish it from other types of responses.

​Thanks to outdoor activities, participants had the opportunity to acquire a range of strategies, both cognitive and behavioral, aimed at overcoming stressful workplace situations. They enhanced their planning and time management skills through group activities. They engaged in breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, and visualization techniques to improve their ability to manage stress.

There are different communication styles, and in order to resolve a conflict, it is necessary to know how to communicate effectively. Participants were asked to engage in activities, such as games, to discover the various types of communication styles. Each member had to contribute to the resolution of a conflict during a group activity. Although solving a conflict can be challenging, this activity showed how such situations can be opportunities for growth and learning. This method can also be applied in the workplace and classroom.

​Thanks to the heterogeneity of the group, coming from all over Europe, participants had the opportunity to interact and learn from each other’s experiences. Additionally, they learned relaxation and meditation techniques in nature. This course not only provided them with tools for managing stressful situations but also demonstrated that conflicts can sometimes lead to positive outcomes.

Discover more about this course here. ​