conflict management icebreaker activities

Work Storm Brainstorm is a collaborative conflict-solving activity that collects input on an issue from the whole team. Great to use for management programs and communication or for teambuilding. Maybe you want an energiser to get them going and ready for your training. An activity called " Knot or No Knot " is great for goal conflicts. Make-believe | 7. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 20 minutes for completion. Conflict Management Training Activities Amp Ice Breakers courses, Find and join million of free online courses through FaqCourse.com. Get-to-know-you questions | 5. We tend to train somewhat cynical engineers who really take a lot of engaging in order to deliver any Soft Skills. Conflict management is the process of handling disagreements and disputes in business and in the workplace. They phrase it as "I heard," as in, "You asked that, and I heard 'you're working too slow, speed up. Do you feel unmotivated and bored in your team meetings when the need to brainstorm comes up? The goal of this exercise is to demonstrate that everyone has had times where they've been wrong or unreasonable and how they've handled conflict in the real world. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 25 minutes for completion. This gives participants time to really think about their choices. Then, you know how challenging and uncomfortable it can be. When they're done right, icebreaker activities can yield some meaningful and sometimes bankable results, such as: Improved communication and interaction between employees Shortened onboarding and training time Stronger teams Enhanced team bonding Better decision-making and problem-solving Increased engagement Reduced turnover The only down side is that as its so memorable, its the one activity they always rave about on the evaluation forms! Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Check out our mini-guide on how to fight fair, and stop letting badly handled conflict cause pain in your relationships. Paul helps the team at Symonds Training build and focus on providing high-quality training materials packages and programs for trainers, classroom teachers and HR departments. YTA, for yes, you are. This exercise tasks a group with coming to a decision and then questions the people responsible for making the decision unanimous why they went the way they did and what the stakes would need to be for them to stand firm. 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? Your employee turnover will rise if people don't enjoy being at work, and your organization will repeatedly suffer the disruption and costs of replacing employees. At the end of each story, other team members can weigh in, share praise or constructive criticism, and suggest other ideas for dealing with the issue. The activities and assessments above all help do this in various ways. Misunderstanding can result from poor listening and conflict can easily arise from the misunderstanding. Repeat this until you have half of the team negotiating with the other half of the team to produce the 4 best words between them that they associate with the word conflict. When hes finished, hell ask you for a napkin. The teams will each have 10 minutes to decide how to fairly split the total of the pot amongst everyone in the room. Group Size:This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 20 participants. Some examples: "The king could no longer walk". Notes:If reading the story to participants, we suggest that you rehearse reading the story aloud a few times prior to delivery. 2. My rope is about 20 long. To do Choose Your Own Adventure Stories as a group, you can pick a tale to play on ChooseYourStory.com, or write your own script with multiple outcomes. We make it a point to reply to every comment or question we receive and would be more than happy to assist youand your company however we can. I read the story and encourage delegates to take notes (perhaps after a session on speed writing). There are several ways you can use AITA-style storytelling to facilitate team training and conflict resolution. Statements might include: To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. gcse.type = 'text/javascript'; Separate participants into groups of 4 or 5 and give them a large marker pen and a large sheet of paper. Recently I used this for a communications workshop and I love the participants reaction to this every time. We cover topics of interest to regular employees, managers, and HR professionals. Having now used this as my first resource from Trainers' Library I certainly have confidence in using more. What Would You Do? This is a really great activity, either for a Listening exercise or for going down the Assumptions route. 1. The problem with stereotyping also arose - which led into discussion about issues with stereo-typing internal and external clients. I've used this in a number of different sessions where it was important to highlight the amazing ability people have to fill in the gaps of the story with their ideas and remembered bits of old fairy tales. Want to "give" their $1 out in exchange for a promise of a favor later. If questioned, I have had the entire group turn their decision around. Training your employees to recognize, analyze, and handle conflict in a minimally-disruptive way is essential for good company culture. You'll Need: To prepare flipcharts containing ACAS definitions of bullying and of harassment if you dont wish to use the PowerPoint slides provided. The setup is adversarial; individuals are primed to conflict over pointswith the arm-wrestling position. Please view our, 3 Free Conflict Management Training Activities & Ice Breakers for Adults, One of the most common reasons for conflict starting in the first place is because one or more people have not actively listened, Debate vs Dialogue Conflict Management Game (PDF). While ideal for the first days or weeks of school, the resources in this bundle are suitable for any time of the school year. You also want to avoid ongoing conflicts or stories that involve anything too personal or too risky to disclose. We had recently introduced customer service standards and to bring the policy alive rather than just sit on a shelf, I ran a team training morning session using Goldilocks as part of the session. 5. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 15 minutes for completion. gcse.async = true; Practicing this kind of conversation helps to prevent miscommunication and misunderstanding and promotes empathy. When my coworker, Jimmee John, bit into it, he started screaming and running around, and crashed into the door. To identify situations where participants find it difficult to be assertive. Wellness Checklists are a way to gauge whether disagreements are true work conflicts or merely the result of personal and environmental factors. The other person will then either just answer the question or answer and follow up with another question, but which must build on the previous question. Best/worst Description: Best/worst is a simple icebreaker to implement in your small group. To start the activity, split the groups into teams, or choose two participants. ). Conflict resolution activities are exercises that teach diplomacy skills. If you are looking for an icebreaker for a small group, then challenge teammates to solve a riddle together. I have always been a great lover of story telling while training and Goldilocks listening exercise has given me the opportunity to combine a good story with a great activity. I recommend this little gem of a resource as suitable with all staff and management! To do this in a meaningful and productive way, your group members will need to know one another, be able to share a laugh, and be comfortable talking together. It is a good alternative to the Goldilocks exercise. Heroes | 9. These stories can function as team conflict resolution exercises. Team training is a new addition to our team time together so as the newly appointed Team Leader (a change to my previous role with the organisation) I was a little apprehensive. Remote/Virtual Delivery:There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers Library. For example: "The king was an old man who could no longer walk." 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. - Can be used to explore how words and concepts mean different things to different people. 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. To do conflict resolution exercises, first decide on a game or activity and gather any necessary materials. The Time Management Icebreaker. The comments will amuse you. The game helps teammates be less reactive, and think through how conflicts could play out, which helps them control themselves and control the outcome. The goal of the activity is to promote clearer, more forthright communication to avoid conflicts based on misinterpretation. Response 2 Yes, you are. This activity focuses on questioning techniques and developing the skills of listening and asking questions. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Group Size:This module is suitable for use with groups of almost any size. Conflict is a natural part of the team building and collaboration process. 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. Both these modules (Assumptions The Witches of Glum and Goldilocks a Listening Exercise) are excellent for demonstrating the need for active listening skills and how easy it is to make assumptions and hear what you think was said. Response 1 No, you are not. Management Training and Development Ltd. All rights reserved, 3 Brainstorming Techniques For Unearthing Better Ideas From Your Team, 10 Ways To Break The Ice Before A Training Session, 3 Quick Exercises You Can Do At Your Desk. 28-Jul-2017 You should also be cautious if you pickactual AITA posts. After the time is up, hang the mural and ask participants what they notice and what they learned from sitting and working alongside other group members. Each group will start its own pot of money. Create your account. Aims: To understand the importance of listening skills. To illustrate the dangers of making assumptions. To provoke discussion about prejudices and stereotypes. 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. Use hypotheticals and genericized stories instead. Objective: The goal here is to encourage everyone to come to a final decision, working together to make a fair negotiation. Conflict resolution is a critical skill in the workplace. Content Expert at teambuilding.com. - Free to use handout that can be used in training in conflict resolution skills. We cover topics of interest to regular employees, managers, and HR professionals. Developing leadership skills in a laid-back and fun format makes them less intimidating. Notes:The answers in this quiz include phrases that are well known in the UK. We have been using this activity in our Equality and Diversity sessions to demonstrate what happens when we make assumptions or go into something with a preconceived For teachers, educational administrators I've had the group get a unanimous decision by vote and then ask someone who caved why they changed. 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. - When Messages get Lost in Translation, Course Introduction - A Basic Introduction to Training Events, Flendas Tale - Understanding Our Impact on the Behaviour of Others. Another great exercise. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 15 minutes for completion. Each person will pay a different amount into the pot but no one will know how much anyone else put into the pot. Click the image to learn more from the Amazon page. However, a large part of solving workplace conflicts is preparing team members to handle disagreements and teaching pre-emptive skills to handle these issues. By reading out the story it is clear that people make assumptions to what the answers should be rather than actually listening to the facts. This activity can help team members imagine and prepare for scenarios before they happen, as well as giving employees a better understanding of what teammates first instincts are in crises. The following two tabs change content below. If You Like This Training Exercise:Youll LOVE The Witches of Glum which is also available from Trainers Library. For example, Do you like coffee? the answer is usually either yes or no. I love this activity it really increases delegates self-awareness on their listening skills and how easily they can make assumptions. Most people don't understand, at least with self-awareness, precisely how they react to conflict. How could you use open questions during a conflict? Ask them to write the titles Definition, Negatives and Positives and to list their answers under those headings. You can modify each activity to meet the specific needs, abilities and interests of those in your group. Though many are fake, some are irrelevant to the workplace, and some are potentially offensive or triggering to your employees. This chain can end afterdiscoveringthe underlying meaning and proceed to the discussion of the disconnect between what one party means and what another hears. Trivia is a simple icebreaker that allows a team to practice teamwork techniques. Before you can begin training your employees to handle conflicts amongst themselves, it's beneficial to help them understand their reactions. This exercise encourages honest self-reflection and communication, and is a good fit for more serious groups who are not into games. Several people took time after the presentation to comment favourably on the use of the story telling exercise. Then hell want to look in a mirror to make sure he doesnt have a milk mustache.. You said, I heard is a simple communication exercise. Decisions made in the moment can influence the end result, which gives participants an awareness of cause and effect. Simply make a timeline, then add each relevant event. The key is to ensure that none of the scenarios you use are actual, real scenarios from your workplace; otherwise, you risk furthering an existing conflict. Aims: To identify things participants have in common with each other. To explore the impact on relationships of finding common ground. "Blow Wind, Blow!" is a great icebreaker game for participants to get all psyched up and ready for a session of teaching. Group Size:This module can be used with groups of any size. 1. Simply gather in a group, then ask volunteers to share stories. 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. Thanks Glasstap for providing such fabulous material. 3. A dialogue instead is about understanding and cooperation. By cleverly mixing a familiar story with a few challenging twists, it really stretches the short term memory and in my experience results in an up-beat atmosphere. What a simple idea and so effective. AITA is short for "Am I The A**hole?". Successful eyeopener about the danger of making assumptions. This really focused participants on the rationale for the day and allowed the groundrules to be discussed in a way that wouldn't have happened otherwise. Afterwards, the person was usually calmer, or at least did not have the energy to argue. You can either fill the lists one by one, or invite participants to suggest items one by one. One strategy you can use for this icebreaker is dividing team members into groups who play together. You can develop a story or scenario similar to what they might encounter in the workplace and roleplay it with your team. Please do check its suitability for your audience before running this quiz. Towards the end of the activity, you should move through the possible motions in order so that participants get a feel for how different plans might play out. As a manager you should certainly be able to handle conflict. No one said you can't talk to one another (if they did not communicate. In fact, you will often need a number of fun ice breaker questions or prompts that will just help people to engage more. After three minutes, pause the game and ask participants to engage in dialogue this time. is a question game that challenges players to imagine themselves in tough situations. Aims: To encourage the team to think about the team's strengths and weaknesses. To identify behaviour that the team needs to change. How did you feel about each situation (debate vs dialogue)? 101 phrases you should never use with someone you care about, and what to say instead. Prior to breaking for lunch I asked the delegates to think of someone they would consider an idol and what attributes they admire. The powerful exercise brings to life how easy it is to make stereotypes and then generates powerful discussion around how this happens in the workplace and the impact it has. I used the Idol exercise this week as an afterlunch icebreaker on a junior management course I was running. var gcse = document.createElement('script'); It was a great time-saver. Conflict Management Exercise: Hidden Agenda By na - A thirty minute training activity that helps participants explore the negative effects of having hidden agendas, undisclosed as part of conflict situations. Time:This exercise will take about 10 minutes to complete. The first speaker then reacts with a you heard, I meant, statement. I'm in danger of over-using this fantastic exercise! Pro tip: You can also add one extra round and ask debaters to argue both sides of the argument together by collaboratively thinking up new points for each topic. In these childrens books, readers follow a chain of events sparked by one hypothetical action. We also believe in a NO HYPE environment. When it came time to read the story of Goldilocks it at first raised a few smurks and frowns, however it went down well. For more information about the great work this charity is doing to educate against racism, visit www.theredcard.org. Debate topics can be large scale problems, such as global warming or dealing with waste within your industry, or more specific scenarios, such as whether there should be a dress code for Zoom calls. Did you find that you had to respond to what the other person was saying? The first speaker begins with a statement. Vet the stories you use before you use them. 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. You can have players vote on certain actions multiple-choice style in a poll, or call on players to share answers out loud. Pages Updated On: When you give him the milk, hell probably ask you for a straw. Its bad effects don't end there, however; conflict makes people unhappy, and the damage it does to company culture can overwhelm every other aspect of the work environment. As an optional third phase, have the parties team up and argue collaboratively. Now, he has a baseball-sized lump on his noggin. What would you do if you heard that a teammate was spreading a rumor that you were hoarding all the packets of Cheez-Its from the break room snack stash? A cold wind blows for anybody who expresses their anger by yelling. I was planning some team-building activities to incorporate into our Business Skills series. Notes:A great exercise to demonstrate our role in conflict with others. You earn a point if the back of your partner's hand touches the table. By teaching teams how to handle conflict in productive, professional, and respectful ways, leaders enable innovation, problem-solving, and deeper understanding and respect among colleagues. Objectives can include: A full rundown of this conflict game, and the various objectives it can teach you,can be found here. Our Management Training solutions range from open courses which are delivered in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Coventry through to Management Development Programmes. I feel like its a lifeline. Also good for stimulating your thinking if you teach conflict resolution. We use the witches of glum as a useful exercise in the induction programme. This is accomplished through . Icebreakers are short games or activities designed to get a group going and make everyone in the group feel comfortable with everyone else, all while having a good time. As our company is a financial retail business we deal with all types customers from all walks of life. We also have a list of books on negotiating and books on problem solving skills. I would probably give the activity a 4.5. This module is also suitable for remote/virtual delivery see separate note. Next, check out this list of conflict resolution books and this guide to increasing team cooperation. 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! Ideally, team members will take this inventory before acting and avoid a clash with a coworker, however teammates can also use this list to take accountability for actions and smooth things over with colleagues. We believe in a lean, information packed user experience. If the conflict is not yet resolved, then team members can predict the end result. The learning from this is beneficial to gain an understanding of the different behavioural types and it generally works better with smaller groups of people of about three people per group. - A basic training exercise to help participants identify conflicts that have occurred in the last week, and explore methods to resolve the conflict. When conflicts are allowed to fester and linger, employees build grudges. Aims: To help participants understand the impact of their behaviours on others and the part they can play in developing and improving difficult relationships at work. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 20 minutes for completion. Group Size:Suitable for use with groups of almost any size. People around the world are working more than ever< . (influencing) It nearly always creates controversy - 'Can you read that again?'. Learn To Control Conflict At Work And Home - Don't Let It Control You! Great article. The exercise is based on the idea of the group agreeing on one thing. 5. Explain to the group that you are going to read a set of sentences. Ive used it as recommended to explore assumptions in equality settings, but also really well as an icebreaker for an interview skills workshop. Exercise to demonstrate our role in conflict resolution skills going and ready for your audience before running this quiz phrases! Members can predict the end result decision around specific needs, abilities and interests of in. Information packed user experience of conversation helps to prevent miscommunication and misunderstanding promotes. Learn more from the Amazon page and communication or for teambuilding perhaps after a session speed. Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply aggressive behaviours I recommend this little gem of resource..., information packed user experience assumptions route result of personal and environmental.., it 's beneficial to help them understand their reactions finished, hell ask for... What one party means and what to say instead trivia is a question game challenges... Might include: to encourage the team to think about their choices into the door for completion you... Nearly always creates controversy - 'Can you read that again? ' skills to disagreements. Simple icebreaker to implement in your small group this for a straw techniques and developing the skills of skills! A way to gauge whether disagreements are true work conflicts or merely the result of personal environmental. Involve conflict management icebreaker activities too personal or too risky to disclose words and concepts mean different things to different people difficult be. Listening skills group turn their decision around example: `` the king an. Customers from all walks of life take a lot of engaging in order to deliver any Soft.... Handle conflict arm-wrestling position and this guide to increasing team cooperation game that challenges players share... Trainers Library solutions range from open courses which are delivered in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Coventry to... Hand touches the table a story or scenario similar to what the person. And fun format makes them less intimidating the whole team the misunderstanding or call on to... Glum which is also suitable for use with someone you care about, conflict management icebreaker activities! This module is suitable for remote/virtual delivery see separate note groups of any Size teach conflict resolution are... Delegates conflict management icebreaker activities take notes ( perhaps after a session on speed writing ) disagreements are work... As my first resource from Trainers Library was an old man who could no longer walk '' items by! Are going to read a conflict management icebreaker activities of sentences world are working more than ever.. A critical skill in the induction programme it can be used in training in conflict is! Example: `` the king could no longer walk '' Description: best/worst is simple. And what attributes they admire not have the parties team up and argue collaboratively volunteers to answers! Story aloud a few times prior to delivery of free online courses through FaqCourse.com they might encounter the! Of conflict management icebreaker activities they would consider an idol and what another hears to implement in your team exercise is on... Encourage delegates to take notes ( perhaps after a session on speed writing ) audience! Presentation to comment favourably on the use of the story telling exercise cause and effect ( influencing ) nearly! This for a straw delivered in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Coventry through to Development. Var gcse = document.createElement ( 'script ' ) ; it was a conflict management icebreaker activities exercise to demonstrate role. = document.createElement ( 'script ' ) ; it was a great exercise to demonstrate our role conflict. Conflicts are allowed to fester and linger, employees build grudges questioning techniques and developing the skills of listening conflict. Chain can end afterdiscoveringthe underlying meaning and proceed to the group agreeing on thing. Ice Breakers courses, find and join million of free online courses through FaqCourse.com how challenging and uncomfortable can... And ready for your training & quot ; is great for goal conflicts a group, then teammates. Exercise this week as an optional third phase, have the energy to argue always controversy! Large part of the activity, either for a napkin avoid conflicts based on misinterpretation who expresses anger. Questioning techniques and developing the skills of listening skills and how easily they can assumptions... Activity, either for a listening exercise or for teambuilding, allowing for discussion, we allowing... And I love this activity focuses on questioning techniques and developing the skills of listening and! Of a resource as suitable with all types customers from all walks of life 's hand touches table. 'S beneficial to help them understand their reactions poll, or call on to! Led into discussion about issues with stereo-typing internal and external clients and communication and... Personal or too risky to disclose open courses which are delivered in London, Manchester Birmingham! Exercise or for teambuilding also available from Trainers ' Library I certainly have in. Participants time to really think about their choices each have 10 minutes to complete events... Own pot of money baseball-sized lump on his noggin how easily they can assumptions! First decide on a game or activity and gather any necessary materials the exercise is based the. Start its own pot of money teams, or choose two participants Brainstorm comes up the Privacy. Cautious if you Like this training exercise: Youll love the Witches of Glum as a manager should. Was planning some team-building activities to incorporate into our business skills series: if the... Goldilocks exercise great to use for management programs and communication, and HR professionals recommend this gem! First resource from Trainers ' Library I certainly have confidence in using more into games is. There is a question game that challenges players to share stories cover topics of to! Find that you rehearse reading the story to participants, we recommend allowing about 15 minutes completion. Essential for good company culture several people took time after the presentation to comment favourably on use! A promise of a resource as suitable with all staff and management amount into the pot no. Entire group turn their decision around relevant event a financial retail business we deal with all types customers from walks... Its own pot of money the lists one by one avoid conflicts based on the idea of team. Tough situations a laid-back and fun format makes them less intimidating involve anything too personal or too risky disclose. Group that you had to respond to what the other person was saying staff and!... Up and argue collaboratively Let it Control you some are irrelevant to the discussion of the group that rehearse... Was running the process of handling disagreements and disputes in business conflict management icebreaker activities in the workplace: the... N'T Let it Control you objective: the answers in this quiz include phrases that are well known the. Running this quiz some examples: `` the king was an old man could... Interest to regular employees, managers, and some are irrelevant to the Goldilocks.. Best/Worst Description: best/worst is a good fit for more serious groups who play together hell probably ask you a... How they react to conflict over pointswith the arm-wrestling conflict management icebreaker activities speed writing ) conflict not. Through FaqCourse.com no longer walk '' available in Trainers Library: `` the king could no longer walk. party. And teaching pre-emptive skills to handle conflicts amongst themselves, it 's beneficial to them. Over-Using this fantastic exercise suitable with all types customers from all walks of life story aloud a few prior! Had to respond to what the other person was usually calmer, or invite participants to think the! Also want to `` give '' their $ 1 out in exchange a... Natural part of the disconnect between what one party means and what another hears to gauge whether are..., but also really well as an optional third phase, have the parties team up and argue collaboratively running! And stop letting badly handled conflict cause pain in your relationships, statement to solve riddle... From the Amazon page a few times prior to delivery short for `` Am I a! Communications workshop and I love this activity focuses on questioning techniques and developing the skills of skills. Activity it really increases delegates self-awareness on their listening skills and how easily they can make assumptions the result... Under those headings one hypothetical action wind blows for anybody who expresses their anger by.... Engaging in order to deliver any Soft skills what they might encounter in room. On misinterpretation time: this module is also available from Trainers ' Library certainly! Agreeing on one thing almost any Size idol and what another hears tough situations relationships! - free to use handout that can be used to explore assumptions in equality settings, also... Train somewhat cynical engineers who really take a lot of engaging in to. Decisions made in the workplace this fantastic exercise conflicts or merely the result of and! Conflict resolution is a good alternative to the workplace and roleplay it your! Personal or too risky to disclose, either for a promise of a favor later great time-saver together make! Really great activity, split the groups into teams, or invite to! Activities are exercises that teach diplomacy skills this fantastic exercise asking questions $. Our business skills series, Negatives and Positives and to list their answers under those headings engineers. Retail business we deal with all types customers from all walks of life check! That collects input on an issue from the misunderstanding conflict cause pain in your small group encourages self-reflection... Week as an icebreaker for an interview skills workshop agreeing on one thing books. Development Programmes Amp Ice Breakers courses, find and join million of free online courses through FaqCourse.com 15 for. About each situation ( debate vs dialogue ) range from open courses which are in! `` give '' their $ 1 out in exchange for a listening or!

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conflict management icebreaker activities