Conflict as an Opportunity: Insights from Dana Caspersen
Dana Caspersen, author of
Conflict Is an Opportunity: 20 Fundamental Decisions for Navigating Difficult Times, is a conflict engagement specialist, TEDx speaker, and award-winning performing artist. With expertise in mediation and conflict analysis, Dana empowers individuals and organizations to approach conflict with curiosity and openness.
Shifting the Mindset on Conflict
Many people see conflict as something to avoid, but Dana believes it presents an opportunity for constructive change. Early in her career, she tried to suppress or control conflicts, often leading to unresolved tensions. Through her studies in conflict mediation, she realized that engaging with conflict rather than avoiding it fosters deeper connections and better outcomes.
Strategies for Navigating Conflict Effectively
- Stay Curious
- Instead of shutting down in tense moments, open up and seek to understand the full picture.
- Actively listen before jumping to conclusions.
- Communicate Without Blame
- Use facts instead of generalizations.
- Explain how a situation impacts you rather than assigning fault.
- Foster a Healthy Conflict Culture
- Establish team norms around conflict resolution.
- Create a safe space for open discussions.
- Acknowledge Without Agreeing
- You can acknowledge someone’s experience without necessarily agreeing with them.
- This helps build trust and openness in conversations.
- Use Emotion as a Guide
- Emotions indicate deeper needs and concerns.
- Recognizing emotions can help clarify what really matters in a conflict.
- Conflict exists because something matters—identify what that is.
- Approaching conflict with openness creates new possibilities.
- You can’t control conflict, but you can control how you respond to it.
Connect with Dana Caspersen
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www.danacaspersen.com
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LinkedIn
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Instagram
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YouTube
Host Contact Information: 📧 Email: janeen@janeenvosper.com 📞 Phone: +61 413 940 117 🌐 Website: Janeen Vosper 🔗 LinkedIn: Janeen Vosper 📘 Facebook: Speech Perfect 📸 Instagram: @speechperfect 🐦 Twitter: @VosperJaneen
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