Conflict Resolution Activity
Conflict Resolution Uncovered
One of the chief conquerors of effective conflict resolution is a tendency to
create labels and form judgments about individuals and situations. In this
exercise we will explore five different scenarios and determine three key
learning points:
Uncover the motivations for the conflict (what does the source really
want?)
Create a framework for both immediate, judgmental responses
Develop a strategy for carefully considered non-judgmental responses.
Give each participant the following conflict situations and focus points. After the
scenarios have been reviewed individually, start a group discussion to uncover the
different motivations, as well as judgmental and non-judgmental responses each
group member has created. Then discuss how personality and communication style
play a role in harboring the conflict, as well as conflict resolution
Situation 1:
An Employee enters your office and states, “First shift workers are disgusting,
this place looks horrible.”
Motivations:
Judgmental Response:
Non-Judgmental Response:
How Do Personality & Communication Styles Play a Role?
Situation 2
A peer turns to you outside of a meeting room, “This team is filled with knowit-alls who won’t let me get a word in edgewise.”
Motivations:
Judgmental Response:
Non-Judgmental Response:
How Do Personality & Communication Styles Play a Role?
Situation 3:
One of your customer service representatives confronts you with this
statement, “If Joan can take a two hour lunch every Thursday, what good are
the rules?”
Motivations:
Judgmental Response:
Non-Judgmental Response:
How Do Personality & Communication Styles Play a Role?
Situation 4:
A fellow departmental director confides to you, “I can’t deal with the CEO any
longer, he kills every proposal I make.”
Motivations:
Judgmental Response
Non-Judgmental Response
How Do Personality & Communication Styles Play a Role?
Situation 5:
You get a call from an important vender who says, “If we can’t get this deal
signed today you’ll need to start looking for other sources.”
Motivations:
Judgmental Response:
Non-Judgmental Response:
How Do Personality & Communication Styles Play a Role?