Conflict Resolution Skills

Course Description

Conflict, just as stress, is a fact of life, at home or at work. Conflict can have a negative impact on your attitude toward job, your sense of accomplishment and the enjoyment you derive from work. Someone defined conflict as a struggle of values or claims to status, power and scarce resources which means that you’ll find conflict everywhere. One can run away from conflict, meekly accept it and learn to live with it, or use personal skills to resolve it to the betterment of all parties and the organization.

The ability to deal with conflict can be a positive or negative force in the workplace and even in relationships and lives outside of work. In this time of limited reimbursement, attempting to maximize resource potential, by allowing negative energy to be redirected toward more productive endeavors, will result in a market edge and may be a key to survival.

Conflict in the 21st century can have a devastating effect on productivity, morale, teamwork, and ultimately, your organization’s ability to stay competitive. Unmanaged conflict can further lead to diminished staff commitment and increased workplace stress. Now, more than ever, the challenge for nurses is to juggle daily conflict, negotiate solutions and deal with the stress it produces.

Dealing with conflict effectively can have a profound impact. It can strengthen relationships with colleagues, bosses and patients, complete unfinished business and open communication. Conflict resolution can also bring important issues to light and once it is managed, it can have a positive effect on the organization.

Managing and resolving conflict constructively is a critical competency for every nurse in today’s workplace of change, diversity and competition. The long-term result for you and your organization will be less stress, greater harmony, more enthusiasm and improved productivity.

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Purpose of Activity

This continuing education activity will introduce critical building blocks of how to constructively manage conflict. Using the simple yet sound techniques presented can make a dramatic change in one’s ability to handle potentially destructive conflict, in a positive constructive manner. Every effort will be made to deal with the real issues behind most conflicts and manage even the most serious confrontations with confidence, tact and composure. Proven strategies will unfold in dealing with a variety of workplace conflicts.

The ability to deal with conflict can be a positive or negative force in the workplace and even in relationships and lives outside of work. In this time of limited reimbursement, attempting to maximize resource potential, by allowing negative energy to be redirected toward more productive endeavors, will result in a market edge and may be a key to survival.

You’ll be empowered and you’ll learn important skills to understand behavior patterns and address problem behavior in a way that is specific, non-accusatory and constructive. This successful effort can establish good working relationships with even the most frustrating individuals. The challenge in gaining new insight on handling feelings of anxiety, anger, criticism and collaboration will additionally be explored.

• Anticipate and prevent destructive conflict
• Deal with conflict and disagreements before they erupt and get out of control
• Encourage the expression of differences when confronting them
• Anticipate and prevent destructive conflict

Dealing with conflict effectively can have a profound impact. It can strengthen relationships with colleagues, bosses and patients, complete unfinished business and open communication. Conflict resolution can also bring important issues to light and once it is managed, it can have a positive effect on the organization.

Managing and resolving conflict constructively is a critical competency for every nurse in today’s workplace of change, diversity and competition. The long-term result for you and your organization will be less stress, greater harmony, more enthusiasm and improved productivity.