Theory
and Practice
Our Theory
Handling conflict with clarity and creativity
is essential to every organization's well-being. Yet, the most
common responses to conflict are fight (confrontation) or flight
(avoidance), as people seek to conquer or avoid stressful situations.
Fight or flight responses to conflict often result in profound
personal, institutional and financial costs.
The ARIA Group works with clients to teach
engagement as an alternative to fight or flight. The benefits
of successfully engaging conflict include:
- Improved communication
- Greater Productivity
- Increased creativity
- Enhanced relationships
- Organizational and personal learning
Our Practice
A Framework for Engagement
Conflict creates strong feelings, evoking
our instincts toward fight or flight. To move towards resolution,
conflicts must be analyzed rationally and objectively, but
without ignoring the very real cares, frustrations and antagonisms
that fuel them.
Because conflict originates in relationships
and interactions, the ARIA Method focuses on a process-based
approach to conflict management and resolution. Whether applied
at the level of individual self-analysis, between two parties
in conflict, or as a tool for mediators intervening between
conflicted parties, the ARIA Method moves participants toward
constructive engagement and creative problem solving.
The ARIA Group's practitioners guide clients
in the steps toward calmly evaluating their own responses to
conflict in general and to the conflict at hand. By fostering
a new awareness of shared interests and goals, the ARIA Method
leads to cooperation and common cause between former antagonists.
With the ARIA framework mastered, clients learn to apply it
independently in order to creatively manage future conflict.
Levels of ARIA Mastery
The ARIA process for conflict management
and resolution is applicable upon three different levels. First,
it is useful as a personal tool for individuals to rationally
analyze a conflict in which they are engaged - as a solo performance.
Second, it is useful as an interpersonal process through which
two or more persons may engage one another to resolve a conflict
- as a duet. Finally, it may be used as a third party intervention
tool to help several people or parties resolve a conflict -
as a conductor.
the ARIA Solo | download
the Solo Worksheet
the ARIA Duet | download
the Duet Worksheet
the ARIA Conductor
Training Information
Conflict Management Training:
Opening the Window to New Ideas
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