ABSTRACT
This chapter looks to understand what conflict really is, how to avoid it, as well as how to manage the situation when we find our self in the middle of it. Conflict is a sustained argument between parties that is driven from opposing views which, if not resolved, can lead to poor organizational performance and culture as well as feelings, on a personal level, of unhappiness. There are two key skills to avoid conflict: learning how to pick your fights as well as how to fight them. The chapter suggests that often the way to avoid conflict is down to how people approach the subject and that challenge is a universal one, not just one that affects safety professionals. Scripting technique is known by different names but it is a very popular approach. Broken record technique is a commonly used assertiveness technique that can be used to help manage conflict.
