JeromeBruner

“It’sonlywhenwesuspectwehavethewrongstorythatwebeginaskinghowanarrativemaystructure(ordistort)our

viewofhowthingsreallyare.”

©ConflictCoachingInternational

Conflictnarratives“Thestoriespeopletellaboutconflictcarryimplicitnotionsofwhatconflictisandexpectationsaboutwhatmovesorresponsesarepossibleorrequiredinspecificcontexts,whatrolethirdpartiesplay,andwhatoutcomesaredesirable.”

FolgerandBush(1994)

©ConflictCoachingInternational

Whatiswrongwiththisstory?

• Simplifiescomplexpeopleandevents.• Divertsourattentionfromusefulinformationinrelationtotheconflictandsocialstructures/context.• Polarizespeopleinconflict:• Activelydiscouragescommunication;and• Worksagainstmutualunderstandingandcollaborativeproblemsolving.

• Discouragesusfromconsideringourowncontributions.• Encouragesustoremainpassive.

• Encouragesdependencyonothers.• Discouragesusfromrecognizingpastandfuturechoices.• Focusesuson,andincentivizessufferingandexaggeration.• Encouragesustowaitfordreamjustice(win/losementality).• Motivesustoidealizethepast:• Whennoreturnpossible;and• Restrictsopportunitiesforgrowthandlearning.

©ConflictCoachingInternational

Sometipsforhelpingsomeonedeveloptheirstory,andimprovetheirfutureactions.• Resistthetemptationto“rescue”them… itisactuallyunhelpfulinthelongterm.• Personalise the‘other’– usetheirnameoften,talkaboutthemasiftheyareagoodpersoninadifficultsituationnotanevilvillain.• Minimise sensationalism– oftenpossiblebysimplyaskingformoredetails.• Complexify:

• Characters• Plot(client’sactions,context)• Possibleoutcomes

• Highlightchoices(pastandfuture).©ConflictCoachingInternational

Inthepre-conferenceworkshop…• I’llgiveyouaneasytounderstandandintuitiveframeworktohelpyouidentifyproblematicareasofaperson’sconflictstory.• You’lllearnabouttheattributesofaconstructiveconflictstory,andmoreimportantly….• I’llgiveyouasimpletooltohelppeopledeveloptheirstorytoincorporatemoreoftheseconstructiveattributes,whichinturnwill…• Openuptheirchoices,theircompetenceandconfidencetomanagethesituationmoreeffectively….• (andsaveyoutimeandmoney,aswellasbuildingstaffenagement)!

Ifyouregisterformypre-conferenceworkshop,I’llthrowinfreeregistrationtomyonlinecourse“IntroductiontoConflictStyles”valuedat$99.Justemailmewithyourregistrationconfirmationatsam@cciacademy.com