Things to Consider

What is Conflict?

Competitive or opposing actions of incompatibles: antagonistic state or action (as of divergent ideas, interests or persons)  It is a mental struggle resulting from incompatible or opposing needs, drives, wishes, external or internal demands.

Workshop Objectives:

• To define “conflict” and “anger” and understand the fundamentals which contribute to conflict situations
  
• To identify the key elements of conflict management techniques
  
• To learn the ABC’s of Anger in others and yourself
  
• To learn the key components and skills to effectively de-escalate one’s own anger
  
• To learn and practice how to change your behavior and the behavior of others, so you can minimize conflict
  
• To learn how to evaluate and recognize the behavior of others before it escalates into a dangerous situation

Understanding how to effectively manage conflict in the workplace can be a challenging process.  Ask yourself, how much time do you spend trying to avoid or resolve conflicts rather than addressing your day-to-day tasks?

It may be that managing conflict is a major part of your day-to-day supervisory responsibility.  As a manager or supervisor, you are often called upon to intervene and/or help resolve problems between co-workers, or situations they face with your clients or customers.  On occasion, you may be faced with a conflict with your subordinates or even your own supervisor.  Conflict in the workplace can range from a minor irritation, to out of control anger or rage and even physical violence.  

 During this workshop participants have the opportunity to learn some important insights about the “triggers” that can lead to conflict.  They will learn about the “rules” and “values” that influence their own behavior and emotional reactions to conflict.  Participants will have the opportunity to evaluate and learn a new approach to dealing with a conflict in their own life both at work and at home.  Most importantly, they learn how to more effectively manage and reduce the negative consequences associated with conflict. 

• Anger implies emotional agitation of no specified intensity aroused by great displeasure
• Rage implies a violent outburst of anger in which self-control is lost

What role does anger play in conflict?  Anger is the “label” we attach to that emotional experience and like ALL emotions anger is a SIGNAL that you are feeling threatened.  Conflict can occur without anger, but anger is usually a precursor to conflict and even workplace violence.  

In this workshop, a lot of attention will be given to the role that anger plays.  Some mental health professionals consider anger to be a positive state of being.  They speak of “healthy anger”.  They believe that ANGER motivates a person to "fix" something that is wrong.  Our "culture" teaches the "BLAME GAME" where WE learn the phrase, "You make me mad!"  Try to translate this into German, French, Spanish, or Japanese.    

There is no such thing as "healthy anger!"
 -- Anger is always harmful!

• “Healthy anger” is an oxymoron. 
• Anger is poison to your system!

When you MAKE yourself Angry, Hateful, or Resentful toward another person, it is like you are "Drinking Poison and Hoping the other person will die."