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Conflict Coaching

 

 

What is conflict coaching?

 

Interpersonal conflict is an unavoidable part of human interaction.  This conflict can take many forms.  You may have a substantive disagreement with another person.  You may be angry or upset over what someone else said or did.  You may believe that you are being misunderstood, mistreated, or not valued.  You may not be getting along with someone else.  You may be afraid that if you raise a particular issue with someone else, conflict will ensue, a situation you want to avoid.  Complicating matters is the reality that these types of conflicts often take place in the context of current and past relationships, particular organizational settings, and the unique norms that govern these relationships and organizations. 

 

By definition, these situations always involve the interaction between what you’ve done or said and what some other indivdual has done or said.  Ultimately, however, these conflicts are rooted in your perception of and response to given situations.  This is good news, because you ultimately have control over your own perceptions and your associated responses. 

 

A conflict coach works with individuals in conflict to increase their ability to respond to a conflict in a way that furthers their own goals.

 

My Approach

 

I would typically start by exploring the situation from various perspectives.  What happened?  How to you feel about what happened?  How is the situation viewed from the other side?  How do they feel about what happened?  What are your goals and priorities?  What are the other side’s goals and priorities?  With this foundation in place, I would work with you to develop options that may enable you to reach your goals.  After weighing the risks and benefits of certain courses of action, you may try out particular options.  We would then reconvene to reflect on what you have tried and develop additional options, as appropriate. 

 

Through this entire coaching process, my hope is not only that you will be able to resolve the particular conflict, but more generally that you will improve your ability to accurately read situations and effectively communicate. 

 

 

            

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