Unhealthy conflict results in a strain on relationships, resistance to change, and higher turnover - all expensive to an organization. When conflict falls below The Line, then avoiding, winning-at-all-costs, and retaliation are prevalent. This creates dysfunction, adds unnecessary drama, and comes with a high personal and professional cost. When conflict happens above The Line, individuals adapt, find inventive solutions, and reach out to resolve the issue. Collaborative solutions transform conflict into new possibilities.
Our firm provides a healthy above The Line process that allows a non-threatening approach that everyone within the organization can easily implement to minimize conflict.
Conflict Management involves training supported with one-on-one and team coaching. It provides a common foundation and language for dealing with differences using a 7 Step Conflict Resolution Process. This tool provides the understanding around how conflict tends to build, skills to de-escalate the conflict, and awareness around individual conflict style that include: Competing: high levels of interest in satisfying one’s own interests and low concern about the other person’s needs. Avoiding: low level of interest in meeting the needs of either person. Yielding: low levels of interest in satisfying one’s own interests and high concern about the other person’s needs. Compromising: mid-level interest in meeting the needs of both parties. Collaborating: high level of interest in meeting both parties’ needs.
Below The Line conflict has a negative impact on client interactions, employee engagement, and profitability. Above The Line conflict management provides a clear process that allows for differing points of view that lead to innovative solutions. In short, ineffective and harmful responses to conflict can be avoided while productive and beneficial responses can be learned.
Leadership around conflict management is required beyond the executive team; it is required at every level within the organization. An individual’s ability to resolve differences has a significant impact on their performance, plus impact the success of their organization.
Each program is customized based on our client’s strategic objectives. Please contact us to learn more.
When we operate above The Line the quality of our thinking elevates. Intentions are clear. Transparency is the rule. We value flexibility over bureaucracy. Difficult conversations create solutions. We discover possibilities in every problem. Actions support the mission. Collaboration is ‘what we do’. Trust overcomes doubts.
The Line is a structured, yet flexible, thinking environment that aligns our energy to our purpose. This makes decisions easier and more congruent. The ‘old story’ that too often holds us back, loses its power becoming an experience that propels us forward with wisdom.
Performance improves as we shift our focus above The Line, onto our strengths, talents, and accomplishments versus concentrating on our mistakes, weaknesses, and disappointments. Enthusiasm becomes contagious. As the thinking within an organization gets healthier, energy increases, and work gets fun again.
The Line is a strategic thinking system designed to help our clients decide where to draw their line, and just as importantly, how to operate above it. This process is the cornerstone for all of our consulting work.
For more information on this process please explore Ms. Stoker’s newest book, The Line. Or contact us for more information.