Understanding Conflict: Bridging Theory and Practice

Understanding Conflict: Bridging Theory and Practice is a comprehensive guide for both group training and self-guided learning to explore alternative paths to dispute resolution. This 50-page manual is concise, clearly-written, and practical, with numerous illustrations to assist learners to comprehend theories of conflict and develop new insights into self and others. It provides vivid examples, case studies, and exercises to those wanting to develop constructive skills when addressing positions, interests, charged emotions, and defensive behaviors. The interactive, collaborative approach promotes improved communication and understanding in organizations, enterprises, personal and family settings.

Topics include a list of learning outcomes, especially helpful in training applications; characteristics of a good communicator; improving difficult conversations; and addressing defensive barriers. Sections on constructive and destructive approaches, and conflict styles provide a foundation for examining the conflict resolution continuum and the important distinction between interest-based versus rights-based approaches. Beliefs about conflict and its consequences, understanding perceptions and assumptions, and the role of power in conflicts are clearly outlined. When the anger arousal cycle appears, it is important to de-escalate anger and address defensive behavior. Defensiveness can hijack the emotions of people in conflict and derail attempts at resolution.

Skill development includes sections on active listening, empathy, I-statements, open and closed questions, summarizing, and practising assertiveness constructively with a series of exercises.

The manual concludes with a concise summary of content for review purposes, a set of skill-developing exercises, references, future reading, and case studies to be used in role-playing conflict scenarios.

The ultimate goal of this manual is to help people manage conflict and seek mutual reconciliation when possible.