Conflict ladder
Contents |
Abstract
One of the most important things in good management is good and clear communication, both when it comes to working in a team and if you are working as a consultant and your relationship with a client. Good communication is important within all types of management - project, program and portfolio. Basically, every time more than one person is working together in solving a problem, and no matter if you are a leader, manager or coworker.
A good way to start having good communication is to avoid bigger conflicts and misunderstandings. Conflicts can occur for many reasons, if not on behalf of unclear goals or misunderstandings, then it often comes from differentiations within perceptions, values and backgrounds [1]. To help control conflicts The Conflict Ladder is a good tool to use.
Conflict in itself is not a bad thing but escalating conflicts are bad. Actually, if all members of a team always agree, then the work can be unnuanced and going in a wrong direction – so conflicts are good when being controlled [1]. But what is a conflict exactly and what does it mean when a conflict is escalating, and how can it be avoided? This will be described in this article together with the principles of The Conflict Ladder. The Conflict Ladder describes the different stages that exist if a conflict is allowed to escalate fully with anger, blame and personal attack, and the aim is to keep the conflict at lowest possible stage. To keep the conflict at the same stage or to get it to lower stages, there is some tools to manage the conflict.
Not all persons react with anger to a conflict, some will try to avoid the conflict, and here The Conflict Avoidance Ladder will describe the different stages of the conflict. Here the tools to solve the conflict will be different [2].
Different examples of conflicts at different stages and managing tool to use in different relations will be illustrated, so it will be easier for you to incorporate The Conflict Ladder in not only your daily work life but also your personal life.
Big idea
[1].
[3].
[2].
What is a conflict?
Where do conflicts arise?
Application
Within a team
Good relationship to your client
Limitations
Annotated bibliography
The Conflict Ladder - How to prevent and manage conflicts, BFA Handel, 2020 [2]. This leaflet is produces by the industry community of working environment within trade, finance and offices to improve the customer contact in the industry.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J. Geraldi, C. Thuesen, J. Oehmen & V. Stingl. (2017). Doing Projects - Nordic flavour to managing projects. Danish Standards Foundation. 97.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 BFA Handel,\& Marianne Lassen (Stockfleth & Lassen). (2020). The Conflict Ladder - How to prevent and manage conflicts. http://bfahandel.dk/Files/Filer/BFAHandel/English/Trapned-pjece-eng-FINAL.pdf Visited: 08/02/2021.
- ↑ R. Goldblatt, D. Elkis-Abuhoff, M. Gaydos, S. Rose & S. Casey. (2011). Arts in Psychotherapy - Unlocking conflict through creative expression.
