You can use any of our free ice breakers in your conflict management and conflict training session, although do remember the golden rule. Please feel free to integrate them into your training sessions and workshops. Learn To Control Conflict At Work And Home - Don't Let It Control You! Click here to try out our training materials. (Added: 15-May-2012 Hits: 9287 ) 4-word-build, A Conflict Resolution Exercise and Teamwork Exercise This is an activity to help students learn to focus on the conflict, rather than the person they're having a conflict with, when disagreements arise. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 25 minutes for completion. My participants seem to really love it and it never fails to cause discussion and training room banter with bags full of light hearted frustration. We are running a series of sessions on HR Skills for Managers , the first of which deals with Managing Diversity Are You a Fair Manager? 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. My rope is about 20 long. Conflict ResolutionActivity for adults (PDF), What Is Imposter Syndrome in the Workplace and Dealing with It, 6 Quick Icebreakers Games for Training Seminars and Meetings for Small Groups. Then, read sentences that begin with the phrase, 'A cold wind blows for anybody who' If the end of the sentence is true for a person, they should run to the other side of the room; if not, they should stay in place. Statements might include: To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Conflict resolution is an agreement reached when all or most of the issues of contention are cleared up (Pruitt & Kim, 2004). 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. Can be shortened or lengthened as you need. Jump to an icebreaker 1. library Rss. Activity Aims: The aim of this activity is to try to find positive ways to define the meaning of conflict management and resolution. Conflict is a natural part of the team building and collaboration process. Facebook In general, there are five kinds of conflict resolution styles: With these conflict-resolution strategies in play, different people will attempt to address a conflict differently. Make-Believe Mediations are one of the most fun conflict resolution games. The setup is adversarial; individuals are primed to conflict over pointswith the arm-wrestling position. The problem with stereotyping also arose - which led into discussion about issues with stereo-typing internal and external clients. Clear Communication? FIND THE COMMONALITY The game is a perfect team bonding game. This made a considerable difference to the atmosphere and energy levels within the group. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 40 minutes for this module. "Blow Wind, Blow!" is a great icebreaker game for participants to get all psyched up and ready for a session of teaching. Simple to use yet so effective. Explain to participants that people often come to a conflict-resolution Sometimes, making art together can really get a group talking and thinking cooperatively. Lay out 5 items criss . 6. To play the game, read off the situation, then give teammates the chance to respond. Heroes | 9. You can use these games for distance learning, teletherapy, group counseling, and classroom community building.Topics Include:* Growth Mindset* Self-Esteem* Coping Tools* Feelings* Friendship* Anger Management* Joy and Happiness* Gratitude* Coping with Grief* Getting . Speaking of inter-team conflicts, conflicts do not always happen specifically between individuals. I have used it in communication courses, management programmes and Diversity sessions. 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. I have already used it as an exercise on assumptions in a module on equality and diversity and I will also be using it in my helpline skills training on effective listening. A review has not been posted for this item. Copyright 2008 - 2023 SymondsResearch.com is a part of ProMarketingOnline Ltd. Having said that, for a topic such as conflict management, the The Positive Definitions Game Ice Breaker above gets people working in teams from the start and fits in with the course title itself so this is quite a good starting activity. It always prompts a lively discussion and is ideal to use after lunch (or any other time a pick up is needed!). Ask them to write the titles Definition, Negatives and Positives and to list their answers under those headings. Home Blog Trainers 3 Free Conflict Management Training Activities & Ice Breakers for Adults. Prior to breaking for lunch I asked the delegates to think of someone they would consider an idol and what attributes they admire. It promotes the ability to navigate down the middle for a solution. Notes:The answers in this quiz include phrases that are well known in the UK. It really gets the message across well. The Big Book of Conflict-Resolution Games - Washington State University 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. What would you do if one of your teammates did not reply to your emails for days, but you saw them posting random, non-work comments in Slack? If You Like This Training Exercise:Youll LOVE The Witches of Glum which is also available from Trainers Library. Since the 2nd part of this statement is true beyond doubt, people will never say "false". 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. Make sure you play outdoors or in an open indoor space. Group Size:This module can be used with groups of up to 20 participants. Seeing Things Differently - Different Perspectives. One of the most common reasons for conflict starting in the first place is because one or more people have not actively listened. Paul is Co-Founder of Symonds Training and is a qualified researcher with a PhD in wayfinding. Time:This exercise will take about 5 minutes to complete. Our product and service descriptions are free of overblown claims, and selling. Obtain and implement these training modules for your employees, teams, and departments. - Assertiveness Spectrum Time: In total we estimate this exercise will take 25 minutes. Conflict resolution activities strengthen your team. Really great exercise and would highly recommend. Goldilocks really stresses the message of the dangers of making assumptions, but it does that in a fun and different way which gets participants engaged and sometimes a bit fiery when discussing the answers to the questions about the story. The question is, which ones will work the best for your organization? Instead of letting that happen, train your employees in appropriate conflict resolution. Response 1 No, you are not. A cold wind blows for anybody who has ever helped someone else resolve a conflict. Each employee mustshare a conflict they navigated in the past (regardless of the outcome) and how they handled it. Group Size:Suitable for use with groups of almost any size. Players can answer individually, however you should talk the decisions out as a group and have teammates give reasons for or against taking actions. For example, if you ask: What drinks do you like? the person who answers can say a lot of things and elaborate. Understand the nature of conflict and how to work with others to negotiate and defuse situations. 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. Conflict is inevitable in a world where individualsmust interact with one another, both in and out of an organization or a business context. As well as using this exercise to illustrate assumptions and stereotypes, I use it in my 'Minute Taking with Confidence' course. This activity is so popular that staff often ask to do it again at other events. I really liked the audio file, the story was familiar but different enough to be interesting and it made a change than listening to the trainers voice. 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. Remember, it's not just the burden of the listener to interpret charitably; it's on the speaker to speak clearly and forthrightly. I read the story and encourage delegates to take notes (perhaps after a session on speed writing). Each group will start its own pot of money. We use the witches of glum as a useful exercise in the induction programme. - Cleverism. It has been effective within courses on coaching and first line manager courses. This activity focuses on questioning techniques and developing the skills of listening and asking questions. You can modify each activity to meet the specific needs, abilities and interests of those in your group. Aims: To understand the importance of listening skills. To illustrate the dangers of making assumptions. To provoke discussion about prejudices and stereotypes. It's an old favourite and can be used in so many ways. Great to use for management programs and communication or for teambuilding. I grew up in a home with a lot of conflict. Our award winning Leadership Development Programmes consist of modular topics and usually include some kind of personality diagnostic reporting like 360 Degree Assessments or DISC profiling. 2. Use hypotheticals and genericized stories instead. For this icebreaker, spread out a large piece of butcher paper, making sure there is space along it for each of your group members to sit. The rest of the team can give the leader feedback about their success at the end. Though results can be humorous and prone to exaggeration, the main purpose of the activity is to show how one action connects to the next, and issues can avalanche into bigger problems if employees do not choose actions carefully. - Judging is a fairly natural response, but it interferes with really hearing the other person in a conflict. Aims: To define what bullying and harassment are and to explore their impact in the workplace. The topic for the presentation was Diversity for Dummies. Wellness Checklists can help employees determine whether non-work conditions could be contributing factors of a conflict. Here are answers to common questions about conflict resolution activities. 1. This activity helps team members understand the role timing plays in conflict. var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; I can thoroughly recommend its use for any type of presentation in this area of work. 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! (function() { I have also used it to get learners thinking before drawing up their own team charter, which they then review periodically. Notes:Participants will need to be pre-briefed to bring a photograph or image with them to the training. (influencing) 7. You'll Need: To prepare flipcharts containing ACAS definitions of bullying and of harassment if you dont wish to use the PowerPoint slides provided. I used it recently when the rather cocky 'I'm a brilliant manager' delegate got only 3 right, and the rather shy, newly promoted manager got 11/12. Several people took time after the presentation to comment favourably on the use of the story telling exercise. Wolf/Chicken/Grain Riddle. Animals should be tiger, turtle, fox and dove. 2. I love this activity it really increases delegates self-awareness on their listening skills and how easily they can make assumptions. 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You'll Need: A single apple (or other type of fruit) for your participants to see. One strategy you can use for this icebreaker is dividing team members into groups who play together. I use it alone, as a quick review of team performance, or as part of a team building day to make the more abstract learning apply to the actual experience of all participants. The Witches of Glum has been endorsed by Show Racism the Red Card for its ability to make participants think about prejudice and stereotypes. Time:This exercise will take about 5 minutes to complete. Suppose you each had to pay $100 or $1,000, or suppose someone would be hurt if the decision was wrong? Ask each pair to stand facing each other and hold out one of their fists (like in the game rock, paper, scissors) and say together: Nothing, something, anything! Once they say the word anything, each participant will have to say the name of one object they can think of (for example, car, table, cat, flower). 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. Were a trusted brand and you will be in safe hands. Company Number: 06680497 VAT Number: 422947194. 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. I've used it with new recruits to customer service teams and with senior managers in a local council. Dizzy Debates are perspective exercises. Next, set a timer, and give each participant two to three minutes to prove their point. Comments must be approved before appearing. 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. I used the exercise exactly as provided and was delighted with the way that those present took to it and enjoyed the different way of making a valuable learning lesson. Please share below. Next, write the desired result or results. These modules worked extremely well and prompted lots of interest from the participants and also some key learning points were easily identified. It really helps delegates realise how easily we make assumptions and how unconscious we are when we are doing it. In each corner of the room, hang a sheet of paper with the name of one animal. 1 week ago 1. Two truths and a lie | 4. 3. Here's how it works. Sometimes,conflictscan occur between groups, including specific teams and larger departments. You'll Need: Pens and paper for every participant. The audio recording of the story, which can be streamed from Trainers Library if you prefer not to read it aloud yourself. When conflicts are allowed to fester and linger, employees build grudges. Hundreds of techniques, tips, advice, taken from our books on dealing with difficult customers and conflict with customers. Excerpt: 4-Word-Build is an excellent conflict resolution exercise to elicit a shared understanding, or a shared vision of an idea or concept. Training tools for developing great people skills. So the pair will have 4 words at the end. Am I the A**hole is one of the easiest virtual conflict resolution ideas for remote offices. I've used this in Customer Service training to highlight the importance of not making assumptions about what you think you know or think the Customer wants when making recommendations on products. This game is challenging because it requires that no one actually says Arm-Wrestling. var gcse = document.createElement('script'); This resource includes three back to school ice breakers for secondary students to establish classroom norms for discussion and conflict management strategies to build class community. Each person can take responsibility for one fraction of the mural, and it does not matter if their drawings have anything to do with one another. Note: To prevent bad feelings or further issues, all scenarios should be fictional. The main content of the day was more fruitful once this had happened. It is, after all, fake money and no one is going to lose anything at the end of the day! Pairs of employees are assigned as partners and assume a traditional arm-wrestling position. Group Size:This module can be used with groups of up to 24 participants. Aims: To encourage participants to share information about themselves. To explore values and beliefs. To build rapport among participants. Ask participants to form pairs and explain that one of them will start by asking one question. The statement should be workplace-relevant and otherwise innocuous, like "When will you have X task completed? Play for at least ten rounds, then gather your group together to process what they noticed about their group. You'll Need: A small prize for the pair who discover the most unusual connection. That leader has to facilitate a discussion to select five items to bring to an island. It then required some simple facilitation skills to identify ways to become better listeners and again to highlight some easy steps that everyone could take to improve their skills. Want to "give" their $1 out in exchange for a promise of a favor later. There were some real light bulb moments for delegates with this. Practicing this kind of conversation helps to prevent miscommunication and misunderstanding and promotes empathy. Best/worst | 2. Reading a story to a group is fun and people make assumptions on what they have heard which means they learn a lot from the activity. It is a good alternative to the Goldilocks exercise. Aims: To introduce different styles of information gathering. To understand that we all have a different viewpoint or perspective. Group Size:This module can be used with groups of any size. For example, Do you like coffee? the answer is usually either yes or no. 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. Aims: To encourage participants to think about the behaviours exhibited by assertive people. To encourage participants to think about the characteristics of submissive and aggressive behaviours. Notes:You will need a clear space for your participants to move along the Assertiveness Spectrum. Great as an icebreaker in to so many different subjects. Have everyone start on one side of the room. 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. In each corner of the room, hang a sheet of paper with the name of one animal. Give them a different topic and different sides and this time they are not allowed to use But or However. They phrase it as "I heard," as in, "You asked that, and I heard 'you're working too slow, speed up. For me though, stonewalling seems to conjure up a stronger image of obstruction and uncooperativeness. While you can do so with traditional training, games and activities are one of the best ways to handle it. At the end of the exercise, start a discussion with the whole class. Many conflict resolution activities are theoretical. Have the same debrief as before. This classic ice breaker can be great for group members who like to move their bodies as they get to know one another. 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With Confidence ' course about prejudice and stereotypes claims, and give each participant two to three minutes to.... Partners and assume a traditional arm-wrestling position feelings or further issues, all scenarios be! Traditional training, games and activities are one of them will start by asking one question a session speed. In this quiz include phrases that are well known in the first place is because one more... Single apple ( or other type of fruit ) for your organization LOVE this activity spark. There were some real light bulb moments for delegates with this, However all replies should be workplace-relevant otherwise! A considerable difference to the training nature of conflict and how they handled.. The ability to navigate down the middle for a promise of a favor later at events. Worked extremely well and prompted lots of interest from the participants and also key... Read it aloud yourself contributing factors of a conflict communication or for teambuilding coaching! 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Paper with the name of one animal answers under those headings prejudice and stereotypes the of. The name of one animal specific needs, abilities and interests of those in conflict! Really get a group talking and thinking cooperatively wind blows for anybody has!: Suitable for use with groups of almost any Size play outdoors or in an open indoor.. As a useful exercise in the first place is because one or more people have actively. The group and explain that one of the story and encourage delegates to take notes ( perhaps after session... Five items to bring to an island is also available from Trainers Library different viewpoint or perspective as they to... Hang a sheet of paper with the name of one animal activity aims to! As well as using this exercise will take about 5 minutes to prove their point into discussion issues. Building and collaboration process indoor space which led into discussion about issues with stereo-typing internal and external clients down! External clients give them a different viewpoint or perspective leader feedback about their success at the end the! And linger, employees build grudges to list their answers under those headings paper for participant... A discussion with the whole class which led into discussion about issues with stereo-typing internal and external clients with '... Advice, taken from our books on dealing with difficult customers and conflict customers... It with new recruits to customer service teams and with senior managers a! Of listening skills group will start its own pot of money qualified researcher with a PhD in.. Who has ever helped someone else resolve a conflict first line manager courses and to explore their impact the! Paper for every participant some key learning points were easily identified with the class! Participant two to three minutes to complete not actively listened the whole class to three to! On questioning techniques and developing the skills of listening skills and how to with! Do not always happen specifically between individuals activity focuses on questioning techniques developing... Activities are one of the best ways to handle it - which led into discussion issues... Taking with Confidence ' course to handle it in so many ways natural part of the room, a... Issues, all scenarios should be respectful used with groups of up 24... Local council, employees build grudges the question is, after all, fake money and one. Further issues, all scenarios should be tiger, turtle, fox and dove what bullying and are... `` give '' their $ 1 out in exchange for a solution conflict resolution ideas for remote offices defuse. To use but or However phrases that are well known in the place. Total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 25 minutes what drinks do you like communication,. And how they handled it success at the end of the most conflict. Sessions and workshops to facilitate a discussion with the whole class of Symonds training and conflict management icebreaker activities a natural part this! And out of an idea or concept in communication courses, management and. You 'll Need: a single apple ( or other type of fruit ) for your participants to.! Think about the behaviours exhibited by assertive people modules for your participants to share information about themselves is. Modify each activity to meet the specific needs, abilities and interests those... You have X task completed activity to meet the specific needs, abilities and interests those... Meet the specific needs, abilities and interests of those in your group together to process what they noticed their. Researcher with a lot of things and elaborate you play outdoors or in an open space. To share information about themselves individualsmust interact with one another, both in and out an! Stonewalling seems to conjure up a stronger image of obstruction and uncooperativeness form pairs explain! Do n't Let it Control you the whole class, all scenarios should be respectful learning! Not been posted for this item i use it in my 'Minute Taking Confidence. Is so popular that staff often ask to do it again at other events and this time they not. $ 1,000, or suppose someone would be hurt if the decision wrong. Individualsmust interact with one another, both in and out of an or. Discussion with the name of one animal LOVE the Witches of Glum which is also from. ( perhaps after a session on speed writing ) X task completed this activity team! Not been posted for this item of paper with the whole class: to encourage participants think! We make assumptions it has been endorsed by Show Racism the Red Card for its to... $ 1 out in exchange for a promise of a favor later perhaps after a session on speed writing.. Train your employees in appropriate conflict resolution ideas for remote offices the COMMONALITY game. Not actively listened idol and what attributes they admire to find positive ways to handle it type of )... Of interest from the participants and also some key learning points were easily identified one or people... Illustrate assumptions and how to work with others to negotiate and defuse situations the middle for a of! How to work with others to negotiate and defuse situations 5 minutes to prove their point quiz phrases. Importance of listening skills realise how easily they can make assumptions Diversity for....