How to Identify Conflict as an Opportunity

Conflict resolution and emotional intelligence play a crucial role in workplace culture and leadership. In this interview, Dana Caspersen shares her expertise on navigating conflict with self-awareness, fostering constructive dialogue, and developing problem-solving and negotiation skills. By shifting our mindset and focusing on communication, we can transform conflict management into an opportunity for growth and collaboration.

1. Stay Curious

• Instead of shutting down in tense moments, open up and seek to understand the full picture.
• Actively listen before jumping to conclusions.

1. Communicate Without Blame

• Use facts instead of generalizations.
• Explain how a situation impacts you rather than assigning fault.

1. Foster a Healthy Conflict Culture

• Establish team norms around conflict resolution.
• Create a safe space for open discussions.

1. Acknowledge Without Agreeing

• You can acknowledge someone’s experience without necessarily agreeing with them.
• This helps build trust and openness in conversations.

1. Use Emotion as a Guide

• Emotions indicate deeper needs and concerns.
• Recognizing emotions can help clarify what really matters in a conflict.

1. Conflict exists because something matters—identify what that is.
2. Approaching conflict with openness creates new possibilities.
3. You can’t control conflict, but you can control how you respond to it.