Differences and disagreements – we deal with them all the time. They are conflicts, though we don’t bother to label them as such. We listen and consider, we build solutions, we problem solve, and then we move on. Other times, something snaps – and we suddenly find ourselves standing in the middle of an ugly mess, arguing perhaps, or getting out of the room as quickly as possible. In this segment of the Texas Conflict Coach, we’ll consider what turns a simple disagreement into a conflict, and strategies to keep conflict at the lowest possible level.

Susan Shearouse has over twenty years experience helping people resolve their differences. Her expertise is in improving working relationships, creating a safe place for thorny conversations, managing strong emotions, and providing collaborative problem-solving processes. Susan often explains that she earned a life degree in conflict – on the job, at home and in her community. After completing a Masters degree in Conflict Resolution from George Mason University, she has applied her academic knowledge to real world challenges inside government agencies, and major corporations as well as small businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Based on her experience, she recently authored Conflict 101: A Manager’s Guide to Resolving Problems So Everyone Can Get Back to Work, published by AMACOM (a division of the American Management Association).

To learn more about Susan Shearouse, Frameworks for Agreement