Turning Conflict into Cooperation : Influencing Behaviours to Achieve Objectives


Most people avoid conflict. Yet conflict in our daily lives is inevitable and likely increasing. Properly handled, it can be a wonderful opportunity for creativity, change, growth and mutual profit improvement. Mismanaged, however, it can become a deeply disruptive, debilitating and destructive force that takes a toll on personal productivity and human relationships.

This practical one-day course is aimed at strengthening your ability to successfully achieve your personal or business objectives through the use of effective conflict management, influence, alignment and behaviour modification skills. It is aimed at developing conflict skills, aptitude and presence for anyone who regularly deals with conflict in their personal or professional lives (from trivial disagreements with colleagues or loved ones to visceral disputes, anger and hostility) or who must wrestle with “difficult people” on a regular basis.

Just as it is critical to your emotional health and ability to deal effectively with disagreements and disputes, so too is knowing how to prevent potentially destructive conflict. Building up a repository of trust and goodwill with customers, clients and colleagues and learning how to deal with objections or unreasonable requests is likewise an important skillset that can be acquired.

In this course, you will learn how to:

  • Recognize the positive potential inherent in conflict
  • Increase inter personal effectiveness and influence
  • Get off the defensive and take control of the situation
  • Maintain self-control in high pressure situations; 
  • Confront myopic, insensitive and obnoxious behaviours
  • Give (and receive) criticism effectively
  • Prevent time-consuming destructive disputes

Depending on the course sponsor, you may also receive a free copy of the instructor’s best-selling book, The Game of Life: Turning Conflict into Cooperation.

Topics include:

  • Developing conflict consciousness: strategic choices; causes and barriers; dimensions and functions; assessing your normal conflict management style; essential distinctions
  • The psychology of conflict: the law of conflict; perceptual barriers; interaction cycles; mechanisms of self-control; conflict escalation and resolution; critical principles
  • Intelligent confrontation: dealing with disagreement; changing problem, chronic and unintentional behaviours; constructive criticism; verbal coping skills
  • Influencing difficult people: understanding pathological  behaviour; strategies for dealing with bullies, know-it-alls, indecisives, pessimists, silent-unresponsives and others
  • Prevention: Rapport by design; building trust; alignment; dealing with objections; saying “no” without being disagreeable; choosing your battles; hot and cool buttons.