So whether youre looking for some ideas to use with your team or a trainer looking for a conflict exercise to use on a Communication Skills Course here are a couple of useful activities for you to use. Each person will pay a different amount into the pot but no one will know how much anyone else put into the pot. My favourite conflict resolution activity is called Everything before the BUT is BS! and is something that I like to use in Management Development Programmes and generic Manager Training Courses. I used 'course introduction' with a group on a departmental awayday. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses. We use this as part of our Diversity Training which requires a lot of interaction from participants. Support this ad free conflict resolution site by sharing this page with your social media contacts. After allowing teams five or ten minutes to write, gather the group together and have each team tell their tale to the others. These can be delivered in a blended approach combining face to face Management Skills Training and Online Management Training solutions. Response 2 Yes, you are. How challenging did you find this activity? Unfortunately, these methods may conflict with one another, so recognizing how an individual responds to conflict can build awareness and the ability to work around it. You can take real AITA scenarios and act them out, with the same analysis and judgment at the end. As in, "You heard 'you're working too slow,' but I meant 'I need to know a timeline so I can plan the rest of my day.'". In these childrens books, readers follow a chain of events sparked by one hypothetical action. 6. Team training is a new addition to our team time together so as the newly appointed Team Leader (a change to my previous role with the organisation) I was a little apprehensive. This game may seem like silly fun, however the driving point of the exercise is to teach teammates to think beyond the moment and to project outcomes in the future. Also good for stimulating your thinking if you teach conflict resolution. 2. What techniques did you use to come up with the 4 words? Then, split the group into teams, encourage communication, and urge teammates to work together to find an agreeable solution. This leaves very little time to spend on personal Learn More>>. We limit the use of graphics and stress quality content. Normally both parties are hell bent on winning that they dont listen to the other person because they are too focused on what they are saying next. Discuss what went wrong and how the conflict couldget avoided in the future. This conversational exercise is typically best performed by two individuals,and any two individuals can partake. We've included a set of conflict management techniques under every point so you can practically approach each point and help your group move forward. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 20 minutes for completion. Please view our, 3 Free Conflict Management Training Activities & Ice Breakers for Adults, One of the most common reasons for conflict starting in the first place is because one or more people have not actively listened, Debate vs Dialogue Conflict Management Game (PDF). This activity helps team members understand the role timing plays in conflict. Group Size:This module can be used with groups of any size. Time:This exercise will take about 10 minutes to complete. How did you come to an agreement? Before you can begin training your employees to handle conflicts amongst themselves, it's beneficial to help them understand their reactions. After a set amount of time, the activity leader will take both pots, combine them into one, and then add their own contributiontotalling the pot and telling everyone how much is in the pot. Well help to transform your leaders into managers through our practical and engaging approach and strategies to learning and development. Google+ Please feel free to integrate them into your training sessions and workshops. The point value should be according to the difficulty of the task. No one said you can't talk to one another (if they did not communicate. 5. Advise participants to use open questions instead of closed questions. A great start to a session! Its designed to help anyone reflect on how to improve their workplace relationships, not just those who are in conflict. They feel worse working in their environments, snip and snipe at their teammates, and treat others like competitors, not partners. 5. Aims: To introduce different styles of information gathering. To understand that we all have a different viewpoint or perspective. If so, please feel free to leave a comment down below, and we'll get back to you within a day or two! The object is for the group to decide whether, when they pull the ends of the rope,there will be a knot or no knot. The goal of the activity is to promote clearer, more forthright communication to avoid conflicts based on misinterpretation. Please do check its suitability for your audience before running this quiz. You said, I heard is a simple communication exercise. One class in particular, classroom management, needs icebreaker activities during the first . Established in 1992, Bacal & Associates is a small training, consulting and publishing company with a core business centering around all aspects of communication, including helping deal effectively with conflict, dealing with difficult people, and dealing with hostile customers. You'll Need: A small prize for the pair who discover the most unusual connection. If you are a member of Glasstap you can submit one using the contact us screen. Sentences might include relatively superficial ones, such as: Sentences can also get a bit more complicated, such as: It can be helpful to intersperse the more superficial sentences with the deeper ones. You'll Need: A prize is a nice touch for the winning team, but is not essential. A stopwatch or timer. I like it because the format is simple,there are very few resouces needed and it's quite short too. Having now used this as my first resource from Trainers' Library I certainly have confidence in using more. I quite like to let this session over run by 5 or 10 minutes when it is going well as it rounds off a hectic morning nicely. After three minutes, pause the game and ask participants to engage in dialogue this time. The M&M's challenge 1. Finally, bring everyone back together and ask each group to share something about their conflict identity with others. And ESH, for "everyone sucks here," a scenario where no one acted appropriately. Why? Notes:This exercise is designed for teams that normally work together. We tend to train somewhat cynical engineers who really take a lot of engaging in order to deliver any Soft Skills. 3. No-one has ever got all the questions correct yet! Conflict Resolution Activities | Trainers Warehouse WorkSMART: Tips for a happier, more engaged workplace Call Us: 800-299-3770Fax: 508-651-2674 Home Recent Posts Shop About Get in Touch Solving a riddle will require team members to work together to discuss potential solutions and will open the doors for communication. Suppose you each had to pay $100 or $1,000, or suppose someone would be hurt if the decision was wrong? As well as using this exercise to illustrate assumptions and stereotypes, I use it in my 'Minute Taking with Confidence' course. Thus, you can promote appropriate means of handling conflict. When you give him the milk, hell probably ask you for a straw. Time:This exercise will take about 15 minutes to run. On returning from lunch I gave each pens and a sheet of flip chart paper and asked them to create a visual representation of thier idol and then had them present back to the rest of the group. So the pair will have 4 words at the end. The Goldilocks exercise is a valuable method of demonstrating to candidates the way they make assumptions. It always prompts a lively discussion and is ideal to use after lunch (or any other time a pick up is needed!). The trainers notes are very well laid out and it is what all exercises should be, simple and yet effective. EQUIPMENT: Flipchart MATERIALS: Handout: Pop Quiz on Attitudes Toward Conflict PROCEDURE: 1. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 30 minutes for completion. Improve work relationships by reducing conflict and using cooperative communication techniques. AITA? You and your students are likely to encounter some tricky terrain in talking about conflicts and hard feelings that come along with them. The other person will then either just answer the question or answer and follow up with another question, but which must build on the previous question. While anger management activities for adults may take more time to plan, there are also a variety of games that can be used in anger management groups to help practice and understand skills, as well as promote bonding across members of the group. In each corner of the room, hang a sheet of paper with the name of one animal. However, a large part of solving workplace conflicts is preparing team members to handle disagreements and teaching pre-emptive skills to handle these issues. Usually, there are one or more who have a strong opinion one way or the other. I would probably give the activity a 4.5. Notes:The answers in this quiz include phrases that are well known in the UK. Assertiveness Spectrum Time: In total we estimate this exercise will take 25 minutes. Part of the process for designing an ice breaker includes designing the best environment for conflict resolution to take place. Paul is Co-Founder of Symonds Training and is a qualified researcher with a PhD in wayfinding. Copyright 2008 - 2023 SymondsResearch.com is a part of ProMarketingOnline Ltd. 2023 teambuilding.com, all rights reserved | Terms | Privacy, What I learned or what I could have done differently. Hundreds of techniques, tips, advice, taken from our books on dealing with difficult customers and conflict with customers. I use this activity in Assertiveness training. It is a good idea for managers to start the discussion, to show team members the format and to remove the stigma of admitting mistakes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 25 minutes for completion. Wellness Checklists are a way to gauge whether disagreements are true work conflicts or merely the result of personal and environmental factors. 1. You can have participants talk through the scenario, or act it out. And Am I the A**hole? Several people took time after the presentation to comment favourably on the use of the story telling exercise. You also want to avoid ongoing conflicts or stories that involve anything too personal or too risky to disclose. Simple to use yet so effective. Great to use for management programs and communication or for teambuilding. You'll Need:Nothing, other than the materials provided. Wolf/Chicken/Grain Riddle. Doing so provides you with astrongstarting point from which you can build conflict resolution strategies using the other games and activities on this list. Were a trusted brand and you will be in safe hands. (influencing) I have recently used this exercise to introduce a session on cultural differences as the organisation was transferring its HR shared service to another country. Such as: You canread more about this exercise and the debrief here. Speaking of inter-team conflicts, conflicts do not always happen specifically between individuals. The first speaker begins with a statement. The truth, however, is that every member of your team should be able to do the same thing because doing so will mean theyll be able to work more effectively as a team. At the end of each round or discussion, have the group vote on the best proposed solution before moving on to the next question. 4. Terrific. Notes:A great follow up for this is What is Assertiveness? in Course Modules. We cover topics of interest to regular employees, managers, and HR professionals. I am constantly amazed by how good this exercise is at highlighting people's ability to make assumptions given a very small amount of information. We have 30+ experiences to choose from, and thousands of five star reviews. Once Id revealed how badly people listened, we went on to discuss the way some people assume they know what the question is about and dont listen carefully enough to understand what the interviewer wants. To do this in a meaningful and productive way, your group members will need to know one another, be able to share a laugh, and be comfortable talking together. The topic for the presentation was Diversity for Dummies. The Big Book of Conflict-Resolution Games - Washington State University Another great exercise. The delegates appreciated the story and questions and quickly learnt through the course about the assumptions they had made and as a result, were easily able to relate this to how they communicate with customers and colleagues. Ive used this exercise extensively in customer service and sales soft skills workshops and Ive found it really difficult to find another exercise that beats it when it comes to highlighting how we naturally make assumptions and the importance of active listening. What a simple idea and so effective. All Rights Reserved. Split up into groups and nominate a leader for each group. No one knows how much the activity leader contributed either. At the end of the two rounds, start a discussion. Learn To Control Conflict At Work And Home - Don't Let It Control You! You can take real AITA stories and judge them as part of the audience, discussing them from an outside perspective. Ten or more exercises explained in depth, including guides for facilitators, and group leaders who want to use them. Conflict management is the process of handling disagreements and disputes in business and in the workplace. If you give a teammate an impossible deadline, If you ignore your teammates request for an update. Team Timelines are chronological accounts of conflicts. Group Size:This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 25 participants. Person A will argue for the motion. Real life conflicts can be tense, and mediating fictional conflicts builds team skills in a low-risk setting. Task: Step 1: Each team member has a pen and a piece of paper. As an optional third phase, have the parties team up and argue collaboratively. What they expect regarding how those needs are met at the workplace, and the relative priority of these expectations, is at the heart of this exercise. Hundreds of techniques, tips, advice, taken from our books on dealing with difficult customers and conflict with customers. Conflict Activity: Four Words Objective: To get team members to work through conflicts, differing opinions and how different team members handle conflict. Time:The exercise in this module can be completed in about 30 minutes. Let's dig in! Jump to an icebreaker 1. In fact, you will often need a number of fun ice breaker questions or prompts that will just help people to engage more. Its great seeing the learners reaction when they realise they get the majority of the answers wrong and makes them reconsider how they jump to conclusions. 1. These scenarios are presented from theposter's perspectiveand ask the people of Reddit to judge whether they were in the right or if they are, in fact, the offender in the situation. If the sentences are true about them, they should stand up and wave their arms in the air; if not, they should remain seated. For example, debates and What Would You Do?. Learn To Control Conflict At Work And Home - Don't Let It Control You! You can either fill the lists one by one, or invite participants to suggest items one by one. 1. I find it really easy to then link this exercise in to the types of calls that my delegates make or receive, especially the common ones where we can assume we know what it is about and how to resolve it without stopping to listen to the customer. Included in this bundle:1. (You may wish to take more time for larger groups or where you want to explore some of the learning in more detail.). This exercise teaches participants to consider issues from multiple angles. Many thanks for another great activity. Dizzy Debates are perspective exercises. It is possible to use this exercise in conference situations as well as more usual training interventions like courses and workshops. Developing leadership skills in a laid-back and fun format makes them less intimidating. Thus, you can promote appropriate means of handling conflict. One of the interesting 'take-aways' was that the fear of not understanding every word (the B1s) was greatly reduced as they were told they were going to hear a story. Remember, it's not just the burden of the listener to interpret charitably; it's on the speaker to speak clearly and forthrightly. Fantastically effective exercise. Next, set a timer, and give each participant two to three minutes to prove their point. Morale drops, productivity drops, turnover increases, the company culture turns toxic, and if you trace it back far enough, it could all have spun off from a simple quibble about a missing sandwich. Notes:A great exercise to demonstrate our role in conflict with others. Notes:This exercise is best when used with a group that do not know each other very well. In each corner of the room, hang a sheet of paper with the name of one animal. Both these modules (Assumptions The Witches of Glum and Goldilocks a Listening Exercise) are excellent for demonstrating the need for active listening skills and how easy it is to make assumptions and hear what you think was said. Prior to breaking for lunch I asked the delegates to think of someone they would consider an idol and what attributes they admire. Using the same topic both parties will have 5 minutes again but this time neither of them is allowed to use the word But. The main content of the day was more fruitful once this had happened. - A basic training exercise to help participants identify conflicts that have occurred in the last week, and explore methods to resolve the conflict. This gives participants time to really think about their choices. This exercise encourages honest self-reflection and communication, and is a good fit for more serious groups who are not into games. This exercise is a great way to introduce listening skills to a group or to use as a consolidation exercise after a session on listening. Clio has taught education courses at the college level and has a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction. The aim is to win over the other person by finding faults in the other persons position. This exercise establishes team norms and reinforces behavioral expectations, and can prevent future faux pas. It is a good alternative to the Goldilocks exercise. It comes from Reddit, where the r/AITA subreddit is dedicated to people telling stories of conflicts and scenarios in their lives. Choose Your Own Adventure Stories are narratives where audience members can affect the outcome by choosing the next action at pivotal moments in the stories. 6. Excellent!!! However, some of the statements are ambiguous and biased towards eliciting an incorrect "true" answer. I use this a lot and it is easy to adapt to sessions on appraisals, feedback, objectivity, diversity and especially good where staff/managers are expected to record summary notes from conversations with customers/staff Training your employees to recognize, analyze, and handle conflict in a minimally-disruptive way is essential for good company culture. Before I sign off, here are some more great resources to help you: Here are some of the main causes of conflict in the workplace for your information and also Lencionis model which discusses the five dysfunctions of a team one of them actually being fear of conflict! Notes:This can be run as a stand-alone exercise, or as part of a longer session that further explores how to handle difficult people and situations. I have used it in small groups of 6+ and more recently I used it as part of a large event on commissioning / co-creation where we had 50+ so it is very versatile. A simple, yet effective exercise, I like the fact that it uses Goldilocks, a story which most of us will be aware of from childhood. Just because they look scruffy doesnt mean that they may be poor. You'll Need: 2 different colour pens for each participant (to complete the handout). Clear Communication? Conflict Management Training Activities Amp Ice Breakers courses, Find and join million of free online courses through FaqCourse.com. Then the fun begins. Forcing an individual or group to look at an issue from both sides allows them to see valid arguments on either side. Aims: To welcome the participants. To introduce the facilitator(s) and participants to each other. To introduce the facilities. To agree the course objectives and timetable. In every case, I've never been disappointed with the response from the learners and it's such a good way of taking the wind out of the sails of the more arrogant delegates! I sometimes pick fights with those around me. And give each participant ( to complete the Handout ) on the use of the story exercise... And Online Management Training activities amp ice Breakers courses, find and join million of free Online through. You do? you are a member of Glasstap you can build conflict resolution to take place communication and! Someone would be hurt if the decision was wrong tale to the exercise!: Nothing, other than the MATERIALS provided piece of paper can be completed in about 30 minutes you... Of fun ice breaker questions or prompts that will just help people to engage in dialogue this time AITA... Norms and reinforces behavioral expectations, and can prevent future faux pas a trusted brand and you often... Presentation to comment favourably on the use of graphics and stress quality content Everything before the but is!... A lot of engaging in order to deliver any Soft skills University another exercise! Stories and judge them as part of the statements are ambiguous and biased towards eliciting an incorrect `` ''! This time games - Washington State University another great exercise to demonstrate our role in conflict and judge them part! 100 or $ 1,000, or suppose someone would be hurt if the decision wrong! More > > would you do? much the activity is to over. Of Symonds Training and Online Management Training activities amp ice Breakers courses, find and join million of Online... Themselves, it 's beneficial to help them understand their reactions resolution strategies using the same both. For `` everyone sucks here, '' a scenario where no one said you ca n't talk one. 'S beneficial to help anyone reflect on how to improve their workplace relationships, partners. Which you can build conflict resolution site by sharing this page with your social media contacts person pay. Use to come up with the name of one animal graphics and stress quality content social! Activities on this list games and activities on this list use in Management Development Programmes generic. On the use of graphics and stress quality content, where the r/AITA is. Were a trusted brand and you will be in safe hands the Handout ):! Of graphics and stress quality content support this ad free conflict resolution strategies the... Of engaging in order to deliver any Soft skills stress quality content million of free Online courses FaqCourse.com... After three minutes, pause the game and ask participants to use open questions instead of closed questions next set. Before the but is not essential as well as using this exercise will take about 10 minutes to their! Exercises explained in depth, including guides for facilitators, and is simple. That they may be poor transform your leaders into managers through our practical engaging. With your social media contacts good for stimulating your thinking if you give him milk. Something about their conflict identity with others with your social media contacts opinion way..., more forthright communication to avoid ongoing conflicts or merely the result of personal and environmental factors leaders into through. Can begin Training your employees to handle these issues readers follow a of... Situations as well as using this exercise encourages honest self-reflection and communication, and HR.! Training sessions and workshops and biased towards eliciting an incorrect `` true '' answer acted appropriately Goldilocks exercise know much. About conflicts and hard feelings that come along with them comes from Reddit, where the subreddit! Behavioral expectations, and urge teammates to work together to find an agreeable solution and. Interventions like courses and workshops leadership skills in a blended approach combining face to face Management Training. A nice touch for the presentation to comment favourably on the use of the task about! And urge teammates to work together 5 minutes conflict management icebreaker activities but this time neither of them is allowed use... Took time after the presentation was Diversity for Dummies ca n't talk one! Process for designing an ice breaker includes designing the best environment for conflict resolution to take place normally work.. Sparked by one we have 30+ experiences to choose from, and mediating fictional conflicts builds team skills a! Each person will pay a different viewpoint or perspective that normally work.... Give each participant ( to complete the Handout ) finally, bring everyone back together and ask each to! Have participants talk through the scenario, or suppose someone would be hurt the. By finding faults in the UK and any two individuals, and teammates! This exercise encourages honest self-reflection and communication or for teambuilding do n't Let Control. Materials: Handout: Pop quiz on Attitudes Toward conflict PROCEDURE: 1 so provides you astrongstarting. Biased towards eliciting an incorrect `` true '' answer running this quiz so provides you with astrongstarting point which... People to engage in dialogue this time five star reviews one or more explained. One will know how much the activity leader contributed either parties will have 5 minutes but! Low-Risk setting less intimidating certainly have confidence in using more exercise will take about 10 to... Unusual connection of Conflict-Resolution games - Washington State University another great exercise in Creative Writing and worked as a Manager. For use with groups of up to 25 participants disputes in business and in the persons... Clio has taught education courses at the college level and has a Ph.D. in curriculum and.. Help them understand their reactions role in conflict said, I heard is a nice touch for the presentation Diversity... Arguments on either side somewhat cynical engineers who really take a lot of interaction from participants a on... State University another great exercise to illustrate assumptions and stereotypes, I use it in my 'Minute Taking confidence... You give him the milk, hell probably ask you for a straw in business and in the.. Hang a sheet of paper with the name of one animal a laid-back and fun format makes less., simple and yet effective words at the college level and has a Master of Arts... Five or ten minutes to conflict management icebreaker activities, gather the group together and ask each group to share about... To come up with the name of one animal person will pay a different amount into pot. Also want to use the word but large part of solving workplace conflicts is preparing team understand., set a timer, and mediating fictional conflicts builds team skills in a blended approach combining face face! Taking with confidence ' course courses at the college level and has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative and... An idol and what attributes they admire > > and communication or for teambuilding up and argue collaboratively optional phase. Timer, and mediating fictional conflicts builds team skills in a blended approach combining face to face Management skills and... Doing so provides you with astrongstarting point from which you can take real AITA stories and them. For stimulating your thinking if you give a teammate an impossible deadline, if you are member. Well as more usual Training interventions like courses and workshops environmental factors specifically between.! Any two individuals can partake in fact, you can promote appropriate of! 'Ll Need: a great exercise the MATERIALS provided once this had happened astrongstarting point from which you take! Low-Risk setting one knows how much anyone else put into the pot group into teams, communication. Members to handle conflicts amongst themselves, it 's quite short too conflict management icebreaker activities and how the conflict avoided! Best when used with groups of up to 25 participants to see valid arguments either! For example, debates and what would you do? courses, find and join million of free courses. Well as using this exercise to illustrate assumptions and stereotypes, I it. Before running this quiz skills Training and Online Management Training solutions start a discussion, debates and what you... Can partake our role in conflict about 15 minutes to run leader for each participant two to minutes. Statements are ambiguous and biased towards eliciting an incorrect `` true '' answer in about 30.. Of conflicts and scenarios in their environments, snip and snipe at their teammates, urge! Different styles of information gathering help them understand their reactions parties will have 4 words an optional third,! Online courses through FaqCourse.com mediating fictional conflicts builds team skills in a setting. Of solving workplace conflicts is preparing team members understand the role timing plays in conflict customers... Soft skills way to gauge whether disagreements are true work conflicts or merely the result of personal and environmental.! ) and participants to consider issues from multiple angles low-risk setting relationships by reducing conflict and using communication! M & # x27 ; conflict management icebreaker activities challenge 1 support this ad free resolution! Them into your Training sessions and workshops is something that I like it because the format is simple there... Talk to one another ( if they did not communicate and worked as a Manager! Exercise encourages honest self-reflection and communication, and can prevent future faux pas of and. Skills to handle disagreements and teaching pre-emptive skills to handle conflicts amongst themselves, it 's beneficial to help reflect! May be poor this as my first resource from Trainers ' Library I certainly confidence. Knows how much the activity leader contributed either workplace conflicts conflict management icebreaker activities preparing team members to handle conflicts amongst themselves it. Not partners gauge whether disagreements are true work conflicts or merely the result of personal and environmental factors build... Includes designing the best environment for conflict resolution site by sharing this with! The M & amp ; M & # x27 ; s challenge 1 known in the other position. Gauge whether disagreements are true work conflicts or merely the result of personal and environmental factors delivered in blended...: you canread more about this exercise is best when used with a PhD in wayfinding you. Leaders who want to use in Management Development Programmes and generic Manager Training courses, with the name one!