Custom Training and Workshops

A group participating in a custom training at their workplace. About a dozen people are sitting in roller chairs around two tables, looking toward the side of the room where a man is standing and leading the discussion.

We provide customized training in collaborative governance and conflict resolution for any organization or team seeking to enhance their effectiveness by using collaborative decision-making approaches within their organization or with outside stakeholders.

Our experienced staff, Portland State University faculty, and our affiliated private-practice mediators team up to provide training on collaborative approaches that really work.

What you’ll learn

Our training and workshops are customized to your organization’s or team’s mission, areas of focus, and educational needs. Using a combination of large and small group discussions, case studies, role plays, and other activities, we work closely with your group to build collaborative solutions to whatever you need. Topics can include:

Working across boundaries to align resources, authorities, roles, and priorities
Coordinating across jurisdictions without losing momentum
Moving from gridlock to action on complex policy challenges
Practical approaches to governing together with limited resources
Framing issues for shared action and reaching shared decisions
Understanding conflict – and using it to move work forward
Communication habits and skills to build trust across differences
Situational or conflict assessments, both internal or external
Designing meetings that produce real results
From plan to practice: keeping people engaged through implementation

Civic Leadership Academy

Are you a city or county elected official or administrator? Learn about our Civic Leadership Academy customized training to foster civic leaders in your hometown.

More Information

For more information about NPCC customized training, call (503) 725-9092 or email npccdesk@pdx.edu

What participants are saying

"Senior managers should attend this training so they can understand what it takes to get to real, sustainable decisions."

Ben Berry, Chief Information Officer, ODOT

"It was really helpful for me to take what I have been doing and to put words to it. In many ways it was like 'duh, that makes sense' but now thinking a lot more about it I really appreciate the context and I can really see how I can use this moving forward and integrate what we learned into some of our guidance documents to help our partners have better discussions."

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department training participant

“Thanks again for putting on such a spectacular workshop. I really think this will materially change how things progress this year (and possibly for years to come).”

Janel Ulrich, Chelan Public Utility District

“This was a particularly well-run course. It had a lot of interactive exercises that really kept us engaged.”

Brad Grenham, Attorney, US Department of the Interior–Solicitor’s Office

"This training responded exactly to the need that I recognize in our work. Our work should be to solve problems together with others, and these kinds of collaboration skills are necessary.”

Matti Hovi, training participant

"We come across situations in which there are different parties with differing interests, and they should be reconciled in one way or another. The training has given me tools for recognizing such situations.”

Jenni Kuja-Aro, training participant