Lifelong Learning

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Conflict Management: Conflict management skills allow leaders to manage and diffuse conflict appropriately.  Disagreement is healthy when approached correctly.  Leaders with skills to resolve conflict in an effective manner can increase productivity and staff morale. 

• Relias courses to check out: Basic Communication and Conflict Management Skills, Conflict Resolution 

• For more information on developing this skill:  5 Keys of Dealing with Workplace Conflict                                                                              

• Pro tip: When managing conflict, focus on behaviors and events, not on personalities.  Make statements such as “When this happens...” rather than “When you do this...”.  Describe specific instances rather than generalizations (such as “You always...”).

• Alison free courses

• Exercises to improve conflict management skills: 

  • Look past stereotypes 

  • Find common ground 

  • Learn from each other 

  • Listen to each other 

  • Acknowledge and appreciate differences 

• Journaling activity: Select a conflict from a recent TV episode and write about how the problem was solved in that scene. Consider the following: What was the conflict? What strategies did the characters use to solve the problem? Were they effective strategies for solving the problem solving peacefully? If not, what strategies might the characters have used instead? 

• A good first step: Practice active listening, which means you make a conscious effort to hear not only the words that another person is saying but, more importantly, the complete message being communicated. In order to do this, you must pay attention to the other person very carefully. Active listening ensures clarity of communication, lessens confusion, and makes others feel their voice is being heard. If you find it difficult to concentrate on what someone is saying, try repeating her words mentally as she says them. This reinforces the message and helps you stay focused