The Skilled Group Leader:
Resolving Conflict

 Objectives:

Participants will:
ü	understand the positive and negative aspects of committee conflict
ü	recognize the elements and stages of conflict
ü	learn the guidelines for resolving conflict
ü	understand guidelines for resolving conflict
ü	determine one's style of dealing with conflict
ü	understanding sources of conflict
ü	understand techniques for dealing with challenging personalities

 Advance Preparation:

ü	review lesson plan and background information
ü	prepare handouts and worksheets
ü	prepare overhead transparencies

 Materials Needed:

Handouts for each participant:
ü	"Stages of Conflict"
ü	"Guidelines for Resolving Conflict"
ü	"What's Your Style"
ü	"Conflict Worksheet"
ü	"Three Steps to Deal with Conflict"
ü	"Five Main Sources of Conflict"
ü	"Techniques for Challenging Personalities"

 Time Needed:

ü	Preparation:	2 hours
ü	Presentation:	1 hour

BACKGROUND (pdf)

INTEREST APPROACH

•	Play out a scenario where one person is particularly difficult in a crowd. This can be over any minor detail that would be somewhat humorous to the group you are meeting with currently.
•	Ask the group to identify what they think is wrong and how it can be corrected.

LESSON

1. KEY ELEMENTS OF CONFLICT
   Handout: Stages of Conflict
   
   
   1. Tension Development
   2. Role Dilemma
   3. Injustice Collecting
   4. Confrontation
   5. Adjustments
      
      
2. GUIDELINES FOR RESOLVING CONFLICT
   Handout: Guidelines for Resolving Conflict
   
   
   1. Underneath incompatible positions lie compatible interests
   2. Every side usually has something valuable to say
   3. Issues become polarized when there is little or no dialogue
   4. High emotions charge the issue
   5. Parties will focus on differences
   6. Parties may become defensive and protect, justify, or explain their position
   7. Parties will immediately want to discuss their individual needs
   8. Parties often feel their story has not been heard
   9. Identifying and understanding the desired outcomes will result in progress
   10. Conflict creates emotions and feelings which are barriers to progress
       
       
3. WHAT'S YOUR STYLE?
   Handout: What's Your Style?
   
   
   1. Avoiding
   2. Accommodating
   3. Competing
   4. Collaborating
   5. Compromising
      
      
4. THE THREE STEPS TO EFFECTIVELY DEAL WITH CONFLICT
   Handout: Three Steps to Deal with Conflict
   
   
   1. Define the situation
   2. Search for alternatives
   3. Make a decision

   
   WHAT'S CAUSING THE CONFLICT
   Handout: Five Main Sources of Conflict
   
   

   1. Root problem
   2. Resources
   3. Interpersonal
   4. Interests
   5. Facts
      
      
5. TECHNIQUES FOR DEALING WITH CHALLENGING PERSONALITIES
   Handout: Techniques for Challenging personalities
   
   
   1. Assess the situation
   2. Stop wishing the person were different
   3. Distance yourself from the difficult situation
   4. "Keep your cool"
   5. Formulate a plan to interrupt the situation and carry it through
   6. If your strategies for coping don't work, stop your efforts for the time being
   7. Keep it all in perspective
   8. Specific personalities and strategies to deal with them
      1. complainers
      2. indecisives
      3. super - agreeables
      4. negativists
      5. experts
      6. silent - unresponsives
      7. hostile - agressives
         

APPLICATION

•	Use the techniques in decision-making processes and in situations where conflict needs to be resolved.
•	Adapt the process to the group and the situation.

REFERENCES

Working with People
    Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and rural Affairs
    1 Stone Road West
    Guelph, ON NIG 4Y2

Ronald J. Hustedde
    Sociology Department
    College of Agriculture
    Cooperative Extension
    University of Kentucky

Steve Smutko
    Cooperative Extension
    North Carolina State University

Jarad J. Kapsa
    Sociology Department
    University of Kentucky
    Southern Rural Development Center

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