CONFLICT, COMMUNICATION & CRISIS MANAGEMENT

Conflict occurs when two or more people compete over perceived or actual incompatible goals or limited resources (Boulding, 1982).  Conflict can lead to heightened emotions, distorted perceptions and judgment, polarity of positions, and increasingly unproductive or even unethical behavior.  This is destructive conflict.  (Mediation Center, 1994)

Conflict has the potential to occur when two people are together.  It is almost guaranteed to occur in a larger organization where there are differences in culture, gender, power, resource availabity etc.  Communication break downs often characterize conflicts spiraling to crisis.  But does all conflict necessarily become destructive?

It benefits leaders to understand the types of conflict.  It benefits leaders to understand how differences in culture or gender or communication styles may lead to conflict.  It benefits leaders to have strategies to improve communications, recognize conflict, de-escalate conflict and understand the tools for crisis management.

Teams assembled by the MACY LEADERSHIP GROUP bring experience, extensive training and the ability to build the skills of others in:

• recognizing the differences that matter in the ways men and women communicate; 

• recognizing their own approach to conflict and the impact of that approach;  

• understanding the sources and arenas of conflict;

• interventions in the arenas of conflict.
  

Healthy conflict exposes differences of perceptions, opinions and perspectives on issues.   Understanding one another's perceptions, opinions and perspectives can lead to better solutions to the challenges that face leaders and teams.