Crucial confrontations and conversations happen daily in our workplace and in our homes. It is important to have an understanding of how to successfully resolve our differences both in our personal and professional lives. Understanding how you personally approach a potential conflict provides an insight as to how you come across to others during times of tension and discourse. Once you have an awareness of your personal resolution tactics, you are able to apply coaching techniques to assist you in learning and improving your techniques. There is an outstanding Ted Talk, by William Ury; please watch this video.

There are four techniques used to resolve conflict. I encourage you to take notes during the video and answer the following questions:

1. What is the single most important thing you can "do" during conflict?
2. List ways you can show you are actively listening.
3. List ways you can control your own emotions
4. List ways you can work to joint solution.