Table of Contents

Chapter 1- Conflict Management 1

The Conflict Spiral 1

Conflict Signals. 1

The Nature of Conflict Management 2

Causes of Conflict 2

Disagreement over a Personal Issue. 3

Disagreement over Status. 3

Disagreement over the Goal to be Set 3

Disagreement over How to Achieve a Goal 4

Shifting Causes of Conflict 5

Review Questions. 6

Chapter 2 - Conflict Management Alternatives. 7

Option 1 - Ignore the Situation. 7

Option 2 - Deal with the Matter Indirectly. 9

Option 3 - Deal with the Matter Directly. 9

Option 4 - Terminate the Relationship. 10

The Need for Speed. 10

Review Questions. 12

Chapter 3 - Conflict Assessment 13

Assess Whether a Structural Problem is Present 13

Assessment of the Other Party. 13

Tendencies When Dealing with Conflict 14

Body Language. 14

Emotions. 15

Operational Patterns. 15

Personal Assessment 15

Ability to Remain Neutral 17

Interaction Assessment 17

Organizational Assessment 17

Identify the Nature of the Conflict 17

Find Areas of Agreement 18

Itemize Points of Disagreement 18

Itemize Points of Uncertainty. 18

Itemize Taboo Topics. 18

Decide on the Goal 19

Discussions with Third Parties. 19

Timing of Conflict Intervention. 19

Review Questions. 21

Chapter 4 - The Conversation. 22

The Conversation Mindset 22

Conversation Considerations – Overview.. 22

1. Make Dialogue Possible. 23

2. Change the Environment 23

3. Select the Right Time. 23

4. Initial Wording. 24

5. Acknowledge the Other Party. 25

6. Collect Information. 25

Focus on the Substance. 26

Test Your Assumptions. 26

Inserting Suggestions. 27

When You Have Sufficient Information. 27

7. Reframe the Conflict 27

8. Impart Information. 28

9. Offer Support 28

10. Mutual Resolution. 29

11. Break Away. 30

12. Breakthrough Language. 30

13. The Innovative Element 30

14. Settling Differences. 31

15. How to Finalize. 31

16. Consider Further Discontent 32

When there will be no Agreement 32

Conversational Gambits. 33

The Observational Discussion. 34

Listening Skills. 35

Dealing with Aggressive Personalities. 35

Dealing with Angry Employees. 35

Dealing with Passive Employees. 36

Dealing with Personal Animosities. 36

Repairing Relations. 37

Review Questions. 38

Chapter 5 - Conflict Situations. 39

Bullying. 39

E-mail Conflicts. 40

Going Around You. 40

Passive-Aggressive Conflicts. 41

Personal Errors. 42

Strained Relations with Boss. 42

Locked-in Strategies. 43

Strained Relations with Business Partners. 44

Conflicts with Groups. 45

When Others Argue. 45

When the Employees are Co-Workers. 45

When the Employees are Subordinates. 46

Special Situations. 47

Review Questions. 49

Chapter 6 - Project Conflicts. 50

Causes of Project Conflict 50

Types of Project Conflicts. 50

Helpful Conflicts. 51

Conflict Management Rules. 51

Knowledge of Project Objectives. 52

Passive Resource Conflict Resolution. 52

The Process Flow for Project Conflicts. 52

Review Questions. 54

Chapter 7 - Conflict Prevention and Positive Outcomes. 55

Set the Tone. 55

Avoid Feeding the Rumor Mill 55

Dispute Resolution Systems. 55

Consistent Application of Conflict Management 56

The Positive Aspects of Conflict 56

Final Thoughts. 58

Review Questions. 59

Answers to Chapter Questions. 60

Glossary. 67

Index. 68

Final Examination …………………………………………………………………………………………………..70