Resolving Conflict: Ten Steps for Turning Negatives into Positives

INTRODUCTION

Organizational leaders recognize the power of influence for producing results. They know that the ability to influence is critical to leading in contemporary organizations, where flat, matrix, or other nonhierarchical structures emphasize relational power over positional power. Leading in such complex environments highlights the need for:

♦  Influencing without formal authority

♦  Taking a global perspective

♦  Working cross-culturally

♦  Sharing leadership

♦  Improving cross-functional cooperation

♦  Managing multiple constituencies

However, even the best attempts at influencing others can fail, and when that happens, leaders often find themselves in conflict. So what has always been a key leadership skill—conflict resolution—has ...