Managing Conflict and Stress at Work 2012 aims to equip all delegates with a wealth of ideas, tools and practical approaches for combating bitter disagreements and debilitating stress for themselves or their organisations. The conference will be different for its emphasis on practice rather than theory - packed with illuminating presentations and workshops, but not a talking shop!

Confirmed programme themes include:

• Conference introduction.
• Keynote: High Stress.
• Micro-tools for breaking the spiral of stress.
• Powerful techniques for resolving conflict (including the RESOLVE mediation model).
• Applied mindfulness (followed by meditation taster).
• Avoiding hi-jacking by invasive technologies.
• Resisting the expectations of a 'be here, be heard and work harder' culture.
• Applied coaching for managing stress.
• Considering traditional and alternative approaches for managing stress.
• Shared insights: learnings from recent research.
• What happened to the happy company? A reflection on the perils of dropping initiatives thought to be suitable just for ‘good times’.
• Doing more whilst working less.
• Dealing with internal grievances, one of the most stressful experiences for all involved (Jackie Keddy, a retired senior Scotland Yard Detective and seasoned grievance investigator, will be demonstrating a simple but tried and tested investigative tool).
• Thinking strategically: creating a road-map for combating conflict (and assessing its effectiveness).
• Stopping the spiralling consequences of bullying.
• Breakdown and recovery.

Themes covered will include insights of setting the people management agenda in a high-pressured, 56,000 strong organisation, a focus on conflict and its links with stress, and views from those who've been battled down by stress and what they found helped them cope. An interactive 'from the floor' specialist question and answer panel with delegate discussion will also feature, including a senior ACAS adviser. The conference will be like no other - with real practitioners and those that have been at the coal face, the sharp end of life.

Feedback from previous events:

"A very practical day; full of ‘use straight away’ tools. Essential for anyone working in this area." "Many useful alternative ways of looking at everyday problems and finding solutions." "Very relevant information provided. Useful tools...Real life examples...Reflective."