Conflict Management

Conflicts happen. Although poorly managed or unmanaged conflicts may be costly to organizations, when conflicts are handled constructively, they can be positive change agents. Constructively managed conflict can drive improvements for organizational processes and procedures, create innovative solutions, reduce internal weaknesses, address external threats, and revive tired relationships or declining organizations. This module provides learners with an overview of conflict and an opportunity to learn the value of positive conflict management. Learners also explore the cost of unmanaged conflict, causes of conflict, and conflict types.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 20155 (English)
Author(s): LaVena Wilkin, PhD - Sullivan University

Communication is a fundamental aspect of business, personal, and social relationships, and how individuals engage in the communication process can lead to conflicts. In this module, learners will explore ways to communicate more effectively while also recognizing their own communication style. A discussion of active listening approaches and the concept of “interest-based negotiations” concludes this module.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 20156 (English)
Author(s): LaVena Wilkin, PhD - Sullivan University

Diversity is a critical facet in today’s organization, yet diversity work is challenging. Progressive organizations benefit from a paradigm shift away from one-size-fits-all leadership to one that understands and values differences in the workplace. Proactive managers appreciate and celebrate diversity and view it as an asset to their organizations. This module provides learners with an opportunity to understand stereotypes and biases that contribute to conflict. It continues with a discussion on the value of diversity as a part of conflict management and learners will be able to explore their own conflict style and appreciate when each style is appropriate and when each is problematic.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 20157 (English)
Author(s): LaVena Wilkin, PhD - Sullivan University

Emotions are a fact of life. Humans are not machines, and they do not walk into the office, hang up their coats, check their emotions, and pick them both up on their way home. Leaders who acknowledge emotions and become more emotionally intelligent, are better equipped to deal conflict in the workplace. In this module, learners review the business case for emotional intelligence and its five factors and begin to develop skills in this area as a part of their leadership development.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 20158 (English)
Author(s): LaVena Wilkin, PhD - Sullivan University

Power is a fundamental concept in conflict management. Power, like conflict, can be positive or negative depending on how it is used. Learners will explore the basic categories of power and the tools leaders often use to exert positive power.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 20159 (English)
Author(s): LaVena Wilkin, PhD - Sullivan University

This module brings together the concepts learned throughout the course while at the same time framing the course content in relation to the six-steps in the problem-solving model for group conflicts. Learners also explore a critical facet of this work: the ability to build trust for the problem-solving process and overcome obstacles to problem-solving.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 20160 (English)
Author(s): LaVena Wilkin, PhD - Sullivan University