An increasing number of people are realizing that conflict coaching is an effective tool to resolve conflicts. Below is some helpful information to help you determine if conflict coaching is right for you. 

Who Benefits From Conflict Coaching?

Families:

• Single parents who cannot agree on issues and want to keep their kids from being caught in the middle of their conflicts.
• Married couples who want a quick and effective resolution of their conflicts.
• Stepfamilies who are still “blending” together.
• Teens and their parents who need assistance dealing with teen issues.
• Individuals interested in improving their communication skills.
• Couples preparing for remarriage.

Workplace:

• Employees who are striving to deal with and/or prevent future conflicts with their fellow employees and boss.
• Managers who would like to improve their effectiveness with their employees.
• Individuals who recognize that effective communication can place their career on the fast track.

Why Conflict Coaching?

The purpose of conflict coaching is to acquire new skills to manage current conflicts and avoid future conflicts. People are amazed at its effectiveness. 

Conflict coaching is different from therapy. Therapy can be a lengthy process of several sessions during which people talk about their childhoods. With therapy, the focus is often on changing one or both of the parties. Although this can be effective for some people, others just want to focus on resolving the difficult situation, which is why they prefer conflict coaching.  

Conflict coaching is also different from mediation. Mediation frequently involves the courts, whereas conflict coaching usually does not. Mediators have skills to facilitate the communication of others. Conflict coaches have those skills, as well as the skills to teach people how to resolve their own conflicts and avoid future conflicts.

How Conflict Coaching Works

The conflict coach works with people either individually or with all of those involved in the conflict. The first step is to obtain an understanding of the current situation. After that, the conflict coach helps to resolve the current conflict and teaches new skills to avoid future ones. Sessions can take place once or on an ongoing basis, depending upon the needs of those involved.