Conference “Would you rather be right or have a relationship? How to talk when it's hard?

The 4 KROKI Foundation and the Marek Edelman Dialogue Centre in Łódź are co-creating this conference because we believe that the quality of our relationships starts with the quality of the conversation.

We live in a world of many perspectives, needs, experiences and conflicts. At the same time, we choose to co-create a world in which we can learn to meet with ourselves and with other people with curiosity, empathy and sincerity.

We see conflict as important information about what demands to be noticed, heard, or changed. It can become the beginning of a conversation, a better understanding of yourself, updating relationships and looking for new ways to be together.

That's why we want to develop the competence to be in conversation — in homes, families, schools, workplaces, organizations and local communities. We know that communication skills can be learned throughout life.

We want to connect people who are themselves the change they want to bring to the world. People willing to practice empathetic and honest conversation in their relationships and pass it on — to children, students, customers, co-workers and communities.

Come, get inspired and be a change.

During the conference “Would you rather be right or have a relationship? “How do you talk when it's hard?” you can develop competencies that are useful wherever people, different perspectives, needs and emotions meet.

When: 06-07 October 2026 at the Mark Edelman Dialogue Centre in Łódź.

You can strengthen:

Self-awareness Recognizing and processing emotions, automatic reactions, and consciously choosing the next step.

Self-regulation Noticing your emotional states and regaining access to choice and conscious action.

Empathic listening Listening and hearing what is deeper — needs, values, and important things.

Honesty Unlike other forms of expression — judgments, judgments, intimidation, embarrassment and blame.

Contributing your own voice Expressing what you see, feel and need with greater clarity, sincerity and responsibility.

Creating and Accepting Boundaries Saying “yes” and “no” in harmony with each other and accepting the other person's boundaries as information about what is important to them.

Coping with conflict Recognizing positions, strategies, reasons and needs and finding what can open up space for further conversation.

Adopting different perspectives Staying with your own opinion while being willing to know the experience and point of view of the other person.

De-escalation Recognizing the moment of escalation of tension and consciously choosing actions that help restore security, contact and the opportunity for dialogue.

Having Difficult Conversations Talking about differences, anger, disappointment, boundaries and conflict also when the emotional stakes are high.

Mediation Using simple mediation practices that help you move from different positions to hearing each other and recognizing what is important to both parties.

Repairing relationships Taking responsibility for your influence, listening to the effects of your own actions, and creating conditions for rebuilding contact and trust.

Internal Dialogue Recognizing different parts of yourself and their needs and building an inner relationship based on curiosity, understanding and cooperation.

Or maybe first of all...

you will strengthen the ability to stay in touch with yourself and with other people even when it is difficult.

You can have your own opinion and at the same time be curious or curious about the other person's perspective.

You can take care of yourself and at the same time create space for relationships.

You can increasingly choose how you want to be in conversation, conflict and relationship.

Who's driving?

The conference and workshops are led by mediators associated with the 4 KROKI Foundation — people who work with conflict, dialogue, relationships and building agreement on a daily basis. They themselves are the change they want to see in relationships and the world. In their work, they combine mediation experience with the Agreement with Power/ Non-Violence (NVC), working with emotions, needs, boundaries and responsibility, and other approaches to support growth. They translate knowledge into practice — in families, schools, organizations, communities and their own relationships. They also know that dialogue does not mean perfection. It is a willingness to stop, to hear yourself and the other person, to bring your own voice, and sometimes also to fix what happened between us.

Mediators themselves practice what they invite others to do: to be empathic and sincere at the same time. On a daily basis, they use consensual processes, which are already integrated and useful resources in life.

Who is this conference for?

“Would you rather be right or have a relationship? “How do you talk when it's hard?” is the conference for you — if you choose to better understand yourself and others and develop the ability to conduct conversations when differences, tensions, emotions and conflict arise.

We invite adults, professionally working with people, as well as everyone who wants to build more conscious relationships in private, family and social life.

We especially invite you to:

People working with people: psychologists, psychotherapists, mediators, coaches, trainers, crisis interns and support workers.

Leaders, managers and teams individuals responsible for collaboration, communication and conflict resolution in organizations, companies, institutions and teams.

Teachers, people involved in the education of educators, educators, school principals, school educators and psychologists, counselling staff and people working with children and young people.

Parents and caregivers who want to better understand family conflicts, talk about boundaries and needs, and support children in dealing with emotions and differences.

Couples and people in close relationships who want to learn to talk also when each sees the situation differently, emotions are strong and the previous ways of communication stop working.

Employees of social assistance, health care and public institutions are people who conduct daily conversations in situations of tension, helplessness, crisis and conflicting needs.

Social workers representatives of foundations and associations, local activists and people who create communities and spaces for dialogue.

Students and people preparing for aid professions who want to develop practical communication skills.

And anyone who sometimes thinks, “I don't know how to talk to myself and you anymore?”

How to talk when it is difficult — so as not to lose yourself, the other person and what is really important?