In the following case study, how might you use the ideas in this chapter to produce a creative and more insightful resolution to the conflict?

An interesting situation is occurring with another tenant and my roommate and me in our apartment building. We have assigned parking spaces, and the tenant that parks next to my roommate has a tendency to pull his car in and park it in half of her space. She has asked him to move over because she has trouble opening her car door. He becomes upset because his car is soaked by the sprinklers located on the other side of it. Two nights ago when we came home, he was over his line and into our space. My roommate parked close to his car because she thought it might make him realize how close he was parking.

However, he got angry and left a nasty note on her windshield. Both parties are not happy. I see the situation as petty, and I think that the neighbors need to work out some kind of agreement instead of exchanging unpleasant words or nasty notes.

a. Before attempting to be creative, what would be a more obvious, straightforward application of the six‐step confrontation model?

b. How might you think differently in this situation? Ask unusual questions, imagine how someone you know might view the situation, and/or try thinking laterally.

c. How might you apply visual methods of creative thinking: mind‐mapping, Six Hats, and visual journaling?

d. Using any or all of the above methods, describe a creative approach that produced a preferable, constructive solution to the problem that was different from initial attempts to resolve the conflict.