Warning message

Please note that this page is from our archives. There may be more up-to-date content about this topic on our website. Use our search engine to find out.

Here’s what you can expect from this workshop, section by section:

1. What is conflict?

  • Define the negative and positive aspects of conflict.
  • Identify the kinds of conflict that happen in workplaces.
  • Discuss how different people approach conflict.
  • Explore why people deal with conflict in different ways.
2. Listening, communication and getting ready to solve problems
  • Develop skills to help you solve problems with other people, at work.
  • Identify listening and communication skills that work well.
  • Practice communication skills.
  • Practice listening skills so you can gather information about a conflict.
  • Discuss what worked best when you were collecting information.
3. Defining positions and interests
  • Define the kinds of “interests” and “positions” that people have in the workplace.
  • Examine why people have different positions and interests in a conflict. Identify common barriers that get in the way of problem solving.
4. Taking action and setting goals to resolve conflict
  • Discuss what conditions need to exist in order to solve problems.
  • Become familiar with the first steps that help to resolve conflict.
  • Examine the kinds of goals you can set to resolve conflict.
  • Develop goals for both sides of a mock (role-play) conflict.
5. Going from interests to options
  • Practice developing options to resolve a conflict.
6. Selecting the solution
  • Practice how to reach a solution when there is a conflict.
7. Writing an agreement
  • Identify the elements in a “mutual benefit agreement”.
  • Practice writing such an agreement.


opeiu 491