Conflict Management

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Less Skilled

• Avoids conflict.

• Struggles to make progress when working through disagreements.

• Takes sides without digging deeply enough to fully understand the issues.

• Allows conflict to cause disruption within the organization.

• Puts people on the defensive.

• May accommodate, wanting everyone to get along.

More Skilled

• Steps up to conflicts, seeing them as opportunities.

• Works out tough agreements and settles disputes equitably.

• Facilitates breakthroughs by integrating diverse views and finding common ground or acceptable alternatives.

• Settles differences in productive ways with minimum noise.

Very Skilled

• Anticipates conflicts before they happen, based on knowledge of interpersonal and group dynamics.

• Asks questions and listens closely to all issues presented by stakeholders.

• Finds common ground and drives to consensus, ensuring that all feel heard.

• Defuses high-tension situations effectively.

Over Skilled

• May be seen as meddling in others’ issues.

• Is too eager to engage others in debate.

• Pushes for resolution before others are ready.

Potential Issues

• Defensive.

• Inflexible or too rigid.

• Gets too emotional.

• Takes things too personally.

• Too sensitive.

• Strong viewpoints on everything.

• Impatient.

• Poor communicator.

• Prioritizes own interests over others’.

• Doesn’t gauge impact on others well.

Resource List

1. Want Your Team to Work Together? Start a Fight. (Inc Magazine Article)

2. For Senior Leaders, Fit Matters More than Skill (HBR Article)

3. The 7Cs of Communication (Mind Tools Article)

4. 5 Keys of Dealing with Workplace Conflict (Forbes Article)

5. Communicating Effectively During Conflict (Mediate Article)

6. 10 Tips for Tackling the Toughest Workplace Conflicts (US News & World Report Article)

7. Dare to Disagree (TED Talk Video)

8. How to Manage Your Emotions in the Workplace (US News & World Report Article)

9. Conflict & Cooperation in the Workplace (Chron Article)

10. The Right Way to Fight (HBR Article)

11. Resolving Team Conflict (Mind Tools Article)

12. Argumentation and Debate (Amazon Book)

13. Leading Through Conflict: How Successful Leaders Transform Differences (Amazon Book)

14. Building Conflict Competent Teams (Amazon Book)

15. Becoming a Conflict Competent Leader (Amazon Book)

16. Developing Your Conflict Competence (Amazon Book)

17. Conflict Strategies for Nice People (HBR Article)