People are slowly beginning to return to the office after many months of working from home. When a person works from home, they are surrounded by the things they love and people who know a lot about them.
When a person walks into an office, they are immediately less relaxed. The fluorescent lights can feel harsh, and they are surrounded by a diverse group of people who may or may not be their friends. When conflicts happen, emotions can run high, and incidents of violence are not unheard of.
If an employee threatens violence, pulls out a weapon, or acts in a threatening way, it is important to have a person or two on the staff who has de-escalation training. A person with this training is never a substitute for the police. However, they may be able to keep the worse consequences at bay until the authorities arrive.
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What to Expect in a Training Class
There are several different types of de-escalation training. In some cases, you will have a class at an outside venue, or it may be offered online.
The very best companies will customize the classes to your particular company and come to your office to train you and your employees. They may offer training in the form of a seminar, a single class, or even a series of classes.
As conflict management and de-escalation are collaborative skills, it is best to enroll several employees in a training class. If it is within the budget, it is not a bad idea for everyone in a company to have training. Although different companies have different methodologies for dealing with escalation, there are a few basic elements of conflict management that any class will teach.
Noticing Warning Signs
When there is a mass shooter in an office or school, witnesses and victims will often say that the shooter gave no signs that they were going to open fire.
A person who is discontented at work might seem suddenly withdrawn. They might get angry over small things and might skip group activities like company picnics. If a person is gossiping with coworkers often, It is a sign that they are unhappy with their job or management. It is important to check in with them and address any concerns that they might have.
Managing Emotions
When a person raises their voice to you or becomes violent, it is only normal to react with fear or anger yourself. Unfortunately, this will only exacerbate the situation.
A de-escalation training class will teach you how to manage your triggers. Triggers are outside stimuli that evoke a strong emotion of some kind. Name-calling can be a trigger for some people. Triggers don’t have to be related to violence. A sound, taste, or smell can trigger an unpleasant memory.
In an ordinary situation, if something triggers you you can ask those around you to be more sensitive. You can ask a person who is playing music that triggers you to stop playing it when you are around. You can tell the person who called you a particular name not to do that anymore because it hurts you.
In a crisis, you may just have to deal with the trigger while attempting to defuse the situation. De-escalation training can help you learn techniques for managing triggers during a crisis. There are breathing techniques and physical exercises that can help in such a case.
How to Use the Proper Body Language
The way you approach a person who is upset can affect their behavior. De-escalation training can teach you what kind of body language to use when you are in a crisis.
Studies have shown that 70 to 90% of communication is nonverbal. A person mustn’t feel threatened when you approach them.
Listening Skills
Communication is critical to de-escalation. Understanding why someone is upset is critical to getting them to calm down. You will learn how to listen actively in de-escalation class.
People tend to interrupt one another when they talk. It is natural to plan what you are going to say to a person as you are listening to them speak.
Active listening training will teach you how to absorb everything a person is saying before you respond. The more questions you ask, the better you will be able to understand another person’s point of view.
De-escalation training will also help keep your other employees safe while the situation is being defused. A training session will often include how employees can take cover in the event of a shooting or other physical violence.
Keeping yourself and your employees safe should be a top priority for your business. De-escalation training can help you keep things on an even keel at work. Click here to learn more about the de-escalation training process.
