Conflict Management Strategies

Discover more effective ways to recognize, respond to, and manage conflict in your workplace.

Conflict is apparent in the workplace, especially during tough business times when resources are lighter and tempers shorter. Most people lack basic conflict management skills and react to conflict on a purely emotional level. In reacting to conflict, many managers will attempt to ignore the problem hoping it will disappear. However, this method will create more stress and tension in the workplace, cause additional conflict among the parties, and even involve others. This topic will guide you to manage disputes and disagreements positively and proactively. This material is designed to clarify and expand your thinking about conflict, as well as identify underlying causes of and new ways to respond to and manage conflict. It is more productive to respond to conflict rather than react to it. Learn about emotional triggers and be able to recognize those triggers in an effort to prevent explosive situations. The topic will outline flexible strategies of conflict management that will improve your communication performance and ability to respond to conflict. Learn different ways to manage conflict productively by examining the gender trend, discussing the different types of conflict in the workplace, and developing conflict awareness. Learn how to map the conflict and explore alternatives to resolve the conflict quickly and effectively.

Learning Objectives

• You will be able to recognize conflict awareness, and the five stages of conflict.
• You will be able to recognize the role of feelings, and barriers to managing and resolving conflict.
• You will be able to identify how to respond to conflict.
• You will be able to recognize different ways to manage conflict productively.

Agenda

Developing Conflict Awareness

• Illustrate How Conflict Can Be Positive and, When Left Unmanaged, Can Be Negative
• Explain the Difference Between Disagreement and Conflict
• Describe Conflict as It Goes Through Five Stages
• Explain the Role of Feelings in Moving Disagreement Into Conflict
• Describe Barriers to Managing and Resolving Conflict

Responding to Conflict

• Examine the Concept That Each Person Is Responsible and in Charge of Their Own Feelings and Behaviors
• Explain How Emotional Intelligence Relies on People Tuning in to Their Own Feelings and the Feelings of Others
• Apply the Validating Process
• Distinguish Between Listening for Thoughts and Listening for Feelings in a Conversation
• Explain That Meaning Often Comes From the Context of the Relationship Rather Than the Intrinsic Definition of Words We Use

Different Ways to Manage Conflict Productively

• Explain the Gender Trend in Conflict
• Identify Strategies for Responding to Conflict
• Examine the Conflict Strategies by Identifying Each Style in Action
• Differentiate Among Passive, Assertive, and Aggressive Behavior
• Learn to Map the Conflict and Find the Most Appropriate Strategy for Resolution

*This program does NOT qualify, nor meet the National Standard for NASBA accreditation.