Oh, the jo

ys of those w

ho do not

follo

w the advic

e of the w

icked,

or stand around w

ith sin

ners,

or jo

in in

w

ith m

ockers.

But they delig

ht in

the la

w of the Lord,

m

editatin

g on it day and nig

ht.

They are lik

e trees pla

nted alo

ng the riv

erbank,

bearin

g fruit each season.

Their le

aves never w

ither,

and they prosper in

all

they do.

PSA

LM

1

1Thrive Foundation for Youth • www.stepitup2thrive.orgCreative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 U.S. LicenseLast Updated: 3/22/11

Step-It-Up-2-Thrive

Tips for Managing

CONFLICTTips for Managing Conflict“Conflict is the gadfly of thought. Conflict stirs us to observe and grows invention.” —John Dewey.(A gadfly= a horsefly that bites.)

Leaders learn how to understand and encourage healthy conflict through clear communication. A beginning leader may be good at persuading others but doesn’t always consider the wants and needs of the other people. When the leader is more skilled, you see the leader try to understand where another person is coming from and balance that person’s needs and opinions with his/her own.

Here is a checkbox list of tips that are helpful in any situation. Keep them in mind as you take on leadership roles:

Understand the conflict! Make sure you know what all the issues are.

Communicate clearly!Ask yourself if the others understand your point of view or whether you need to use different words to express yourself better.

Consider circumstances with a growth mindset!Express empathy for the viewpoints of others. Focus on the issues instead of the individuals saying what you don’t want to hear.

Be flexible. Encourage negotiation and compromise.

Seek advice. Even the best leaders benefit from the views of others, particularly from those who are impartial observers.

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