Life Skills for Vocational Success

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Unit 1: Social Skills

Lesson 3: Conflict Resolution

OBJECTIVES

  1. Identify different conflicts a person has experienced.
  2. Identify appropriate ways to resolve a conflict.
  3. Practice the steps to resolve a conflict.

MATERIALS NEEDED
Steps to Resolve a Conflict

marker board or something to write on

SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
Social Skills Development: Practical Strategies for Adolescents and Adults with Developmental Disabilities - a book by Stephen Antonello. It can be purchased from Any Psych Book (1800 210-7323) for $47.95. Check local book stores as well.

Social Skills at Work: Keys to Success -A $99.00 video by Jist Works, Inc (1800 648-5478). This video is highly recommended for this unit because it provides good models for resolving conflict with bosses and co-workers.

INSTRUCTIONAL FORMAT
This topic will involve discussion and practice of conflict resolution skills. The students should have training and/or the skills in communication, assertiveness, and anger management. These skills are essential to resolving conflict. Conflict resolution is a difficult skill to master. It is important to stress to the students the importance of using "outs" when their skills are not helping resolve the situation. The "outs" include leaving the area, agreeing to disagree, and getting a third party involved to assist in the resolution.

  1. Discuss with students different conflicts they have been in. Have them talk about how they resolved it. Discuss the positives and negatives about how they resolved the conflict. Positive ways can include trying to understand the other person's point of view, compromising, talking about it, etc. Negative ways include yelling, refusing to change or compromise, refusing to work out the conflict, etc.

  2. Instruct on the steps to resolve the conflict. The steps are outlined on the handout titled "Steps to Resolve a Conflict."

  3. Role-play situations that allow the students to practice conflict resolution skills. Use situations that the students have brought up in discussion.

SIGNS OF GENERALIZATION
Students are not losing friends or jobs due to conflicts. When they have a conflict, they use at least some of the skills in conflict resolution. When they are having a conflict, they are contacting supports to help them through the conflict. If they contact a trainer prior to trying to resolve the conflict either positively or negatively, the trainer can coach them on how to handle the situation positively.

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