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?

My husband and I went out for an early dinner at a nice restaurant. The restaurant was practically empty, but we were seated next to a table that had a recently stained cover. The table had been cleared but had not been re‐set for dinner. My husband, who once worked as a server in a 5‐star restaurant, was horrified that the cloth was there—

he felt that it should have been removed immediately even if the table wasn’t set. He told the person who seated us that is was disgraceful, he told our server, and when the manager came over to ask if she could be of help, he told her. He was not appeased by their report that the busboy had not come in and it would be taken care of when he arrived. And no one was taking his “hint,” if you could call it that, that the cloth simply be removed regardless of whether the table would be immediately re‐set.

The manager finally took it off but I could tell she was completely exasperated by his disgust at the tablecloth. Even after it was removed he kept saying that being forceful was the only way to get things done, and he was convinced he was right because everyone gave in to his demand. I was so embarrassed by his behavior that I left the waitress a very good tip.

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, 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.