Conflict and Resilience Coaching

What is conflict management coaching?

Conflict management coaching is a process in which a specially trained coach provides 1-1 support to enable individuals to improve the way they interact with colleagues and understand how to manage and resolve interpersonal workplace conflicts and disputes. It is a future- oriented process that focuses on each person’s specific conflict management goals.

We have experienced coaches who have specialised in coaching those in conflict over many years. This includes coaches certified to use the Conflict Dynamics Profile and Resilience@Work models.  Together these models help individuals to better understand their conflict behaviours, hot buttons and build resilience; all key skills in today’s ever changing and challenging working environment.

When can conflict management coaching be used?

In any situation where individuals are having difficulty managing a conflict situation, dispute or working relationships. Where it is not possible to obtain the agreement of both parties to mediate or mediation is not seen as appropriate, conflict coaching can be an alternative to support for either one or both parties.

Conflict coaching can be used to support individuals to:

• Improve their knowledge, skills and abilities to more effectively manage interpersonal disputes.
• Develop understanding of how responses to conflict and changes in attitude and behavior can impact.
• Prevent an unnecessary escalation of a conflict situation.
• Prepare for a challenging conversation with another person or group.
• Develop stronger conflict management skills, for example in performance management and managing as a leader.
• Prepare for participation in mediation.
• Address matters that may arise post-mediation, such as lack of resilience, ongoing unresolved emotions and issues and/or relationship dynamics.
• Apply the skills learned in conflict management and other related training.
• Improve resilience and ability to manage future difficulties.

Potential benefits

Conflict coaching can:

• Promote real learning and self-reflection.
• Embed learning and help to sustain changes in behaviour.
• Enable individuals to better understand different people styles or communication styles.
• Build individual’s confidence in adapting styles and engaging in difficult conversations.
• Reconcile conflict situations by improving understanding and enabling individuals to move forward more positively.

How it works

• Besides helping individuals to reach their related goals, the coach will provide constructive input and not judge in any way. The coach will use a step-by-step process aimed at keeping focused on reaching objectives. The coach will regularly check in to ensure progress is being made. The coach’s role is not to make decisions or to provide advice but to enable learning through self-reflection.
• It is an entirely confidential process, with dedicated one to one support.
• Coaching promotes real learning and is particularly powerful when individuals can be open and honest and commit to it fully.

Resilience coaching

There is a clear link between conflict and resilience. Where resilience is low conflicts maybe more likely to arise and escalate or adversely impact on individuals. It is also more difficult for individuals to fully engage in the efforts necessary to resolve conflict in these situations. Accordingly in some cases it may be necessary to provide support to enable clients to focus on improving resilience as a first step.

We have coaches accredited to use the Resilience@Work model. This provides a good basis to build an action plan to focus on the areas to build and sustain resilience. Resilience in this context will enable individuals to   manage everyday stresses at work while staying healthy, rebound and learn from setbacks and prepare for future challenges in a proactive way. This is particularly important during challenging times of fast pace change.

Coaching training and support

We also provide training and support services for clients who wish to provide conflict coaching as part of their in-house suppor.

Conflict coaching can be a powerful addition to mediation and positive conflict resolution options. For further information on how conflict coaching can be used see Alison’s blog How it Works in Practice.  For more information on the Conflict Dynamics Profile and at the link between conflict and resilience see here.

To appoint one of our experienced conflict coaches or to discuss how conflict coaching may be used in any particular situation please contact us

Experts in Conflict Coaching

Alison Love

Sarah Embleton

Sonia Freestone

Debbie Morris

Naomi Headland