Hot Topic: Conflict Management/Difficult Conversations

Conflict is a normal part of our lives. The question is, how well do you manage it? Do you see conflict as a war with winners and losers? As chaos? As failure? If so, you’ll have problems managing it. Leaders understand that their role is to channel conflict into better communication and collaboration. It takes real skill, as I learned when I took a graduate course in conflict resolution a few years back. It had a big impact on my teaching and even on my own approach to managing conflicts I encounter. Here are some columns I’ve developed to help you with tough talks and tough people:

• Walking the Tightrope: Difficult Conversations

• What Kind of Conflict Manager Are You?

• Firing: For People Who Hate the Subject

• Ten Lousy Listeners and What We Can Learn from Them

• Why Can’t We Do Things My Way?

• In Praise of Sorry Leaders

• Leaders and “Face Time”