Workplace Violence: How to Manage Anger and Violence in the Workplace

Course Overview

You will spend the first part of the day getting to know participants and discussing what will take place during the workshop. Students will also have an opportunity to identify their personal learning objectives.

What is Workplace Violence?

To start the workshop, we will examine what workplace violence is, the cycle of violence, and some warning signs.

Understanding the Behaviour Wheel

During this session, we will look at Albert Bandura’s behaviour wheel. We will also explore how it applies to violence and anger.

The Anger Management Process

Dr. Lynn McClure, an anger management specialist, has identified a seven-step process to manage anger (yours or someone else’s). We will examine this process in detail through a lecture and through role play presentations.

Communicating Better

Communicating effectively can often help prevent people from getting angry. We will explore some key communication skills, including a four-step assertive message, listening skills, questioning skills, and three keys to unlock the best in people.

Basic Problem Solving Tools

Being an effective problem solver is another way a person can help prevent anger. We will spend most of the afternoon of Day One looking at a three-phase problem solving model and a problem solving toolkit. Participants will then apply these skills to a case study and to a personal problem.

Other Ways of Managing Anger

During this session, participants will discover some ways to manage their own anger, including coping thoughts, strategies to unwind, and relaxation techniques.

A Systems Approach

The second day of the workshop will focus on how an organisation can plan to prevent workplace violence, using Norman Keith’s nine stage plan as a framework.

Developing a Policy and Program

A properly implemented violence policy and program is crucial to preventing workplace violence. We will look at both the policy and the program in detail.

Risk Assessment

A risk assessment will help the organisation identify possible security and safety concerns. We will look at a five-step plan that any organisation can use to assess these risks. Participants will apply this plan to a case study.

Hiring Practices

During this session, we will discuss some things that you can do at the hiring stage to help prevent workplace violence.

Workplace Design

The physical environment of the workplace can contribute to, or help prevent, workplace violence. We will explore some of these considerations through a case study.

Workplace Practices and Procedures

We will look at how training, Human Resources policies, staff management, and security measures can help make your workplace a safer place. Participants will then complete a case study to apply these ideas.