Conflict Resolution Reinvented —
Skip the tedious training and say hello to the “just-in-time” App that changes the game!
Carrie Blair and Peter T. Coleman
In the high-stakes world of corporate negotiations and leadership, conflicts are inevitable. Yet, navigating them effectively while preserving relationships and achieving desired outcomes remains a constant challenge. But what if there was an evidence-based tool based on decades of research that could provide timely and tailored strategies at your fingertips?
Meet the free Making Conflict Work App.
Last summer, Carrie, a CHRO and Communications executive, found herself in a delicate negotiation with a valued friend and client. Aware of the importance of maintaining their relationship amidst the talks, Carrie turned to the App. With just a few taps on her phone she received a tailored, situation-based strategy and action steps that proved instrumental in steering the negotiations towards success. Without the App, Carrie admits she might have overlooked crucial strategies, jeopardizing both the business relationship and the friendship.
Leaders like Carrie are constantly juggling a myriad of shifting interests, demands and power dynamics — each with its own complexities and implications. In today’s constantly shifting corporate landscape, traditional conflict management and training approaches no longer meet the moment. The question arises: how can leaders adapt and thrive amidst hyper-evolving challenges without sacrificing precious time or resorting to outdated methods to respond?
Enter Peter Coleman, a Columbia professor and pioneering conflict management expert, who was inspired by a simple yet profound suggestion. Following a presentation of his research that had participants calling out “we need an app for that!”, Peter set out to revolutionize conflict resolution by collaborating with tech-savvy grad students from his lab. The result — an intuitive tool designed to offer tailored solutions in real time. The app’s premise is simple yet powerful. Answer three fundamental questions and receive expert guidance and approaches to move forward with success.
For today’s executives who are inundated with demand, the MCW App is a lifeline. In a world where lengthy training sessions and dense textbooks aren’t dynamic enough to the complexity and pace of change. By incorporating the app into their workflow, leaders like Carrie can approach conflicts with confidence, agility and adaptability to ultimately drive better outcomes for their organizations.
Several other executives who have embraced this innovative tool attest to its transformative power. As a VP of Finance recently shared, “too often in trying to manage through a conflict situation I tend to just jump right to the end as opposed to go through the process and steps and think about the position I’m in… the app really made me think through our common goals and the strategy of how I was going to approach this.”
As the corporate landscape continues to evolve quickly, the need for adaptive conflict resolution becomes more pressing than ever. With the Making Conflict App, leaders can harness the power of a “just in time” app to transform conflicts into opportunities for growth and collaboration.
About the Authors
Carrie Blair is a global Chief Human Resources and Corporate Communications executive, who works across sectors, from public to private, from for-profit to not-for-profit, and from start-ups to Fortune 500s. She has been honored by HR Director Magazine and as a Diversity Champion from Women of Influence.
Peter T. Coleman is a professor of psychology and education at Columbia University, Chief Scientist for Rapport, and the author of Making Conflict Work: Harnessing the Power of Disagreement and his latest book The Way Out: How to Overcome Toxic Polarization.