Rising Above Office Conflict

Clare Fowler, EdD, is the Executive vice-president at Mediate.com. She currently teaches workplace mediation at the University of Oregon School of Law and Pepperdine University. Dr. Fowler mediates and trains, focusing on workplace disputes.

The Rosetta Stone for the workplace meets the Girlfriend’s Guide: pithy prose, punchy examples, pragmatic advice - and with plenty of references to baked goods, Star Wars, Princess Diana, and even Mother Theresa playing video games and scarfing Cheetos. The voicing is relatable, like you and your BFF in your jammies, painting your nails, gabbing about everything on your mind . . . and sorting it all out together. Well researched, thoughtfully structured with “sticky” and repeated thematic tools, this is no fluff piece. It’s versatile, offering depth and breadth - something for everyone, from the novice to the so-called expert. As a bonus, it will improve your vocabulary: if you don’t know what katagelasticism or thanatosis means, you’ll learn. Read to the end; you’ll be rewarded with a yummy bonus (but don’t skip to the end - that’s cheating!)

• Introduction.. 71 – Conflict: Everybody Does It. 2 – Conflict: The Unwelcome Gift. Positive effects on youPositive effects on your familyPositive effects on your officePart I. It’s Hard! Difficult Personalities, Difficult Situations, Difficult Communication.. 3 –Clueless Carls. 4 – Snappy Sallies. 5 – Bad vs. Mean Communication.. 6 – Horror Vacui 7 – Rude/Annoying Coworkers. 8 – Chatty Patties and Chatty Matts. 9 - Inappropriate Ingrids and Ivans. 10 – The Dude and the Dudette. 11 – Micromanagers. 12 – The Hulk.. Explosive Anger. Angry, Rude, They-are-the-reason-I-drink Coworkers. 13 – Busier-Than-Thou People. 14 – Honey Badgers. 15 – High-Conflict People. 16 – The Passive-Aggressive. 17 – Neurodiverse Coworkers. 18 – Family Businesses. 19 – Dismissive Bosses. Part II. Some Context on Conflict. 20 – Workplace Abuse—and What to Do About It?. What Is Abuse?. Preventing Abuse. 21 – Keeping Yourself Sane and Safe. 22 – This Is Your Brain on Conflict. Part III. There Are Solutions! 23 – Preaching to the Choir. 24 – Why I’m Right and You’re Wrong... 25 – Vigilante Problem Solving… 26 – Keeping an Offer in Your Pocket. 27 – Delegating Disputes. 28 – Options for Empowering Yourself 29 – Rising Tides Raise All Boats. 30 – Faith-Based Problem Solving.. 31 – Changing the System... Part 4. Deciding to Stay or Go. 32 – Are Your Feelings Telling you to Go? 33 – What Are You Willing to Do? 34 – So You Stay…What Do You Do? Resolving the Conflict. Part V. Preventing Future Conflicts. 35 – Stick in the Mud. 36 – Straight, No Chaser. Caramel M&Ms. 37 – The Road to Relationship Is Paved with Good Intentions. 38 – So, You Go…Changing the Devil You Know for the Angel You Don’t. 39 – Going Forward. CONCLUSION. About the Author. Resources.