University of Southern Maine

Constructive Conflict Resolution

While conflicts are inevitable, anger, holding grudges, hurt, and blame are not. Conflict resolution can be a growth opportunity. With the right tools and frame of mind, you can resolve conflicts in a way that benefits everyone involved. Once people understand conflict and how to more effectively manage it, fear and avoidance can disappear, while personal growth and productivity expand. This workshop covers more productive conflict resolution techniques, starting with how to identify your own conflict reaction style through creating conflict solutions that all parties can support. The approach calls for conflict to be viewed as a unique problem solving opportunity in which a variety of tools can help maintain that focus. This course is helpful for anyone interested in self-assessment and improvements in his/her conflict resolution skills; managers, supervisors, and human resource managers who need to be able to both model and facilitate conflict resolution between others.

After this workshop, participants will be able to:

• identify what causes interpersonal con
• view conflict as constructive, rather than destructive
• understand different conflict reaction styles . . . fighting, smoothing, avoiding, bargaining, and problem solving
• identify your own and others' conflict reaction styles
• turn each style into a more productive problem solving situation
• use an 8-step approach to constructively resolve conflicts
• set conflict resolution ground rules
• use effective communication skills that display and enhance mutual trust and respect
• give constructive feedback
• reduce defensiveness and break the defensiveness chain
• eliminate negative attitudes during conflicts
• use what you have learned to resolve your own conflicts and to mediate others? conflicts

Registration has ended. Please browse courses for future offerings of this course.

$195 (7 contact hours/ 0.7 CEUs)
Abromson Center, 88 Bedford Street, USM Portland campus