Forward Focus

Conflict ManagementBrace for impact: mediate, negotiate, fight backYou rock!EAs are pivotal to the success of organisations.EAs are go to people (just like Radar)An EAs role is one of leadershipHow do EAs become more effective in the face of conflict?

Truth: Workplaces can be a challenge

Who am I to speak on conflict management?

17 Years in State and Federal Police7 of those years in Tactical Operations, inc experience negotiating during armed conflictTraining advisor in IraqBurning desire to understand why humans love conflict!

This sums it up!Between what I think, what I wish to say, what I think I am saying, what you wish to hear, what you actually hear, and what you understand.there are 10 reasons why we may have difficulty communicating, but lets try anyway.

Bernard Werber.Communication breakdown?

Put on your oxygen mask

We can get stuck in our emotional responses. Out BIAS is the path of least resistance the brain craves.7The Goldilocks brainOrganising principle of brain is to minimise threat and maximise rewardFor survival reasons, the brain processes threat faster than rewardThere are five times more negative networks than positive networks in the brainIn order to use our resources efficiently, the brain relies on conditioning

Our pile of stuff

We are hard-wired to take the easy path

Optimal arousal in the brain

Self-controlThe Marshmallow Testhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX_oy9614HQ

Practice self-control i.e. before going into a meeting that you know is going to be confrontational, use chocolate denial to get your mind in the mood.12What does all this mean?Our heightened sensitivity to danger and fear means that we respond to negative stimuli much more quickly, dwell on them longer, and consequently have fewer resources available for other cognitive activity.In the context of negotiation, this means that it can take more work to build trust and work towards agreements by stimulating feelings of reward and pleasure than it takes to derail a process by doing something to trigger feelings of danger or fear.

ContdWe possess an efficient system for dealing with conflict and/or stress that does not always work in our favourDealing with conflict through mediation and/or negotiation will yield better results when our conscious intention is used in conjunction with our instinctsi.e.Effective resolution of conflict uses both cognition and emotion

Alex bike story14Mediation and negotiationMediation is not simply facilitated negotiation, but a facilitated social, emotional and cognitive process.

Jeremy Lack Mediator/Attorney

Common conflict cycle

7 stepsPreparationOpeningsExplorationOption generationSelectionClosingCompliance

Red Flags:Check yourselfRemember that we are social creaturesCollaborate rather than confront

Creating conversationsAn algorithm for avoiding amygdala activation:

When the (de-personifies)I feel (facilitates expression of emotion)Because I (provides a rational basis)Would you mind (closure)?

Optimal arousal in the brain

Thank you!Questions?

Contact:Shane Horsburghshane@tactedge.com 0434547393