Don’t Get Stung by Conflict: Overarching Approaches to Handle Conflict

Introductions NameName If you were an animal, what animal are you and why?If you were an animal, what animal are you and why? Please feel free to make your comments throughout the presentation, and respect others when they talk (to AVOID conflict)Please feel free to make your comments throughout the presentation, and respect others when they talk (to AVOID conflict)

Sources of Conflict FactsFacts GoalsGoals Methods of completing tasksMethods of completing tasks ValuesValues

Food for thought Conflict is neither good nor bad- harmony is not always good.Conflict is neither good nor bad- harmony is not always good. Why?Why? In conflictual situations, everyone has choices. What are some choices you have in conflict?In conflictual situations, everyone has choices. What are some choices you have in conflict?

Conflict Management Techniques Different persons learn different ways of managing conflict. The strategies you use to manage conflicts may be quite different from those used by your friends and colleagues. This exercise gives you the opportunity to increase your awareness of what conflict strategies you use and how they compare with the strategies used by others.

Conflict Management Inventory Please complete the Inventory: How do You Act in Conflict?Please complete the Inventory: How do You Act in Conflict? Work by yourselfWork by yourself Score your questionnaire by using the table that follows.Score your questionnaire by using the table that follows. This will help us start a discussion of how you see your conflict strategy.This will help us start a discussion of how you see your conflict strategy.

Collaborating – Owls I win, you win Teamwork and cooperation help everyone achieve their goals while also maintaining relationshipsTeamwork and cooperation help everyone achieve their goals while also maintaining relationships When to useWhen to use –High level of trust –“Ownership” of solutions –Willingness to change –To work through animosity

Compromising – Fox You bend, I bend Winning something and losing a little is OKWinning something and losing a little is OK Serves the “common good”Serves the “common good” When to use:When to use: –Peers are equally committed to different goals –Saves time with intermediate settlements – Goals are moderately important

Accommodating – Teddy Bear I lose, you win Working toward a common goalWorking toward a common goal When to use:When to use: –When the issue is not as important as the relationship –When you are wrong –When you know you cannot win –Harmony is extremely important

Competing – Shark I win, you lose When goals are extremely important, one must fight to winWhen goals are extremely important, one must fight to win When to use:When to use: –When you know you are right –Time is short and a decision is needed –When you need to stand up for your rights

Avoiding – Turtle No winners, no losers This is not the right time or place to address this issueThis is not the right time or place to address this issue When to use:When to use: –Conflict is small and relationships are at stake –When you are counting to 10 to cool off –When more important issue are pressing –When you are too emotionally involved

Closing Thoughts Don’t ignore conflict; address itDon’t ignore conflict; address it Don’t exaggerate conflict; solve it with the least possible publicity and public scrutinyDon’t exaggerate conflict; solve it with the least possible publicity and public scrutiny Don’t abandon conflict; pursue it to resolutionDon’t abandon conflict; pursue it to resolution Don’t fence yourself in by a conflict; taking two or three witnesses requires that you are also open to reproof and correctionDon’t fence yourself in by a conflict; taking two or three witnesses requires that you are also open to reproof and correction Don’t recycle conflict; once resolved, let it go and get back to you lifeDon’t recycle conflict; once resolved, let it go and get back to you life Bruce Barton in “Matthew” section of Life Application Bible CommentaryBruce Barton in “Matthew” section of Life Application Bible Commentary