Half-day 1: basic principles of Nonviolent Communication
We explore needs, feelings and empathy. You practise empathetic listening and honestly expressing what you mean.
This page was translated from Dutch with AI.
Nonviolent Communication
A conversation goes wrong, people do not feel heard and the tension lingers. In this in-company Nonviolent Communication training you learn to say what you need without hurting others, and to listen without judgement. The training consists of two half-days for 6 to 12 participants, in Dutch or English.
Do you recognise this?
A colleague says something in the meeting that affects you. You answer curtly, she withdraws, and there is a cold atmosphere for the rest of the meeting. In the corridor, no one talks about it.
You actually wanted to say that you do not feel heard. Instead, it keeps bothering you a bit, and you wonder why things go wrong so often.
Miscommunication costs energy, at work and beyond:
- conversations end in reproaches or in silence;
- you do not feel understood or respected;
- you do not know how to express your needs without hurting the other person;
- small annoyances grow into conflicts that stand in the way of collaboration.
This creates a circle of pain and division. Nonviolent Communication offers a different path: empathy, honesty and understanding are central.
Why do conversations go wrong so often when you mean well?
Usually, no one wants to hurt each other. But whoever feels attacked will defend themselves or stay silent, and then no one hears what the other person actually needs. This is how small annoyances grow into tensions that linger.
That costs energy and trust. You avoid certain people, you choose your words carefully or you stop saying anything, and working together feels harder than necessary.
It does not have to stay this way. Behind every reproach is a need, and you can learn to hear and name it.
How do you say what you need without hurting others?
Communicating without judgement is a skill, not a character trait. You learn it step by step, just like any other skill.
Our coaches know the conversations that get stuck. With Nonviolent Communication as a method, empathy, honesty and understanding are central: you learn to express needs and feelings and to listen to what is behind a message.
In two half-days you first explore the basics and then apply them with role plays and situation simulations. This way you become more confident in the conversations you currently prefer to postpone.
What you can do after the training
After the training you can:
- communicate without violence or judgement;
- clearly express your needs and feelings without hurting others;
- listen with compassion and hear the need behind a message;
- use empathetic listening skills and verbal expression in difficult conversations;
- build healthy and sustainable relationships, personally and professionally.
This is how we approach it
The training consists of two half-days.
Half-day 2: practical application
You strengthen your communication skills with role plays and situation simulations. Reflection and feedback help you grow.
Afterwards you keep practising
Every training is extended in the THOC Leerruimte. Your material remains available and you get an AI Coach who knows the lesson.
We work in an experience-oriented way: you experience the principles in interactive exercises and reflective conversations, and bring them into your daily life.
Who gives this training
Our coaches can give this training. Tell us which conversations are difficult for you, and we will tailor the exercises to them.
Frequently asked questions
For anyone who wants to be understood and respected more often, and also wants to understand the other person better: employees, teams and managers. It is an in-company training, so we practise with situations from your work.
Two half-days. The first is about the basic principles: needs, feelings and empathy. The second is about practical application, with role plays, situation simulations, reflection and feedback.
With six to twelve participants per group, so everyone can practise and get feedback. The training is available in Dutch and in English. Let us know which language your team prefers.
Every training is tailored, so we work with a quote after we have heard your request. If you want to combine Nonviolent Communication with other skills, request a tailored training.
Your material remains available in the THOC Leerruimte, together with an AI Coach who knows the lesson. This way you can continue practising at your own pace.
Practical details
- Languages: English, Dutch
- Participants: 6 to 12