Cease Fire!
Strategies for Managing Conflict
and Improving Communications

Custom Tailored for Your Organization
from
THE INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED DEVELOPMENT
Seattle, Washington
(206) 772-9277

Conflict and differing points of view are woven into the fabric of all relationships. Not all conflicts can be resolved, but they can absolutely be managed effectively. Conflict doesn't have to be a negative. Conflict doesn't mean that there is a battle and one person wins and another loses. Without conflict there would be no innovation or movement into a future which differs from the present.

Having the skills to manage conflict resourcefully and effectively is a learned skill. To have a positive outcome from a conflict requires give and take. It is an opportunity to view the world through the lenses of another human who sees the experience differently than you. To manage conflict ethically and proactively means having influence. As President Teddy Roosevelt said, "I've heard many people say they don't like having to persuade and influence others. They'd rather the people would just do what's needed on their own. But when asked to think about what it would be like to have influence, versus them having none, well that changes their story. "

This is a highly interactive one-day workshop on influencing effectively and managing conflicts. Training participants will be able to utilize advanced strategies used by effective conflict managers and mediators. People learn best by a combination of seeing, hearing and doing. Therefore, participants will experience a carefully designed combination of:

1. Information that is innovative, engaging and thought provoking.
2. Evaluation instruments that will give insights into their personal conflict and influence patterns.
3. Specially designed role-play and modeling exercises which give hands-on experience so the participants learn about themselves and develop new skills for building better working relationships.
4. Interactive group discussion for clarification, brainstorming and skill development.

Purpose of This Training

Instead of breaking the workshop into two components (conflict resolution and influence) this program is an integration of the two into a unified whole. There are aspects of persuading and influencing which are integral to managing conflict, and principles and actions of dealing with conflict which dovetail with being influential. Therefore, equal weight will be given to skill development in each topic.

The primary outcomes of this training are better self-management in conflictual situations, methods for preventing conflict and strategies for overcoming conflict should it occur. This includes the ability to clarify sources of disagreement, open the communication so issues can be processed and de-escalate conflict so it doesn't go too far. In order to be an effective conflict manager it's essential to approach the issue with practiced skill-sets. Since no two situations are precisely the same, it is necessary to have more than one option for dealing with what comes up. During this training multiple methods of working with conflict will be presented and practiced.

Through the day, a "skills integration process" will be used to integrate the core skill-sets and information into a usable whole with what participants already know. This learning process often makes a difference between actually being able to utilize the information and processes long-term, instead of having the training fade as old habit patterns resurface and become once again dominant. At the beginning of the session, each individual sets goals or core outcomes for the day. At the conclusion of the course, they will develop an action plan for integrating the new tools/principles into their repertoire of interaction management skills.

Goals & Objectives for the 6 Training Modules:

1. The Root Sources of Influence

• Utilize a multi-sensory strategy for learning and incorporating the principles of influence and conflict management into your behavior.
• Learn the principles and behaviors which create effective intra and inter-personal relationships.
• How your individual personality drives your emotional/behavioral responses.
• Know the only 2 reasons anyone does anything.
• Learn how to use conflict productively for creating innovation, change and stronger relationships.
• Recognize when conflict is destructive and its patterns of escalation.

2. How to Make a Strong, Positive Impact
    while Concurrently Diffusing Conflict

• Understand the foundational elements underlying conflict.
• Know how to establish the foundation for trust, respect and credibility.
• Persuading yourself and others--the 3 steps required before action is taken.
• Motivation: what it is and isn't, and how to use it to overcome procrastination.
• The 5 classic conflict strategies, and the pros and cons of each.
• Diplomacy and the potential for a positive outcome from conflict.

3. Dynamic Communication Builds Positive
    Relationships and Impedes Conflict Eruptions

• Creating an "ecological" outcome interpersonally.
• Discover the nested frames of intrapersonal effectiveness and congruence.
• Learn the 4 areas in which conflicts occur which can create a breakdown in the relationship system.
• Develop greater sensory acuity for managing self/others with more finesse.
• Refine your ability to recognize language signals--listen accurately so you can "speak the language" they do.
• How to present your perspective so they will be most receptive to it.

4. Establishing Rapport for Win/Win Relationships

• Refine and adopt the 3 strategies on which rapport is built.
• Learn verbal and non-verbal aspects of establishing rapport.
• Making the interpersonal connection--the 11 areas which you can match/mismatch.
• Strengthen your ability to work effectively without being caught-up in diversity issues or threatening/harassing behaviors.
• How to create a position of strength in conflict situations and not give the image of being "one up."

5. Self-Management -- Controlling Conflicts in Tough Situations

• Learn a "conflict framework" that guides you through the encounter.
• Know how to use questions more effectively so the relationship remains open to anothers' point of view even when you don't agree.
• Utilize strategies to keep your emotions under control so "hot-buttons" don't trigger as easily.
• Incorporate the 3 best responses to sarcasm in your repertoire of resources.
• Discover how to manage yourself during criticism so you can deflect it.
• Become better at dealing with one-upmanship while not getting hooked.
• Learn criteria for making the decision to involve a 3rd party for assisting in managing a conflict.

6. Building Internal Resources for a Positive Outcome

• Learn to access a personally powerful state for self-regulation and emotional stability during stressful times.
• Gain a 4 part evaluation strategy for encouraging collaborative relationships.
• Become able to use the process of anchoring for maintaining poise and confidence.
• Know three simple techniques for avoiding most conflicts.
• Create an action plan for practice and usage of concepts and skills gained.

Contact The Institute for Advanced Development today for pricing or more detailed information.
Call (206) 772-9277 or email our Customer Service Representative