I am proud to announce that, with the start of the new year, I have become a teacher at the Berlin Professional School, where I will be taking on a wonderful new role.
I will be teaching international MBA students an elective in ‚Leadership and Conflict‘. The elective is already fully booked, and I am looking forward to my first day of teaching in Berlin. Not only do I regard the subject as essential for future leaders, I am also looking forward to the opportunity to teach in English.
Conflicts are an inevitable part of human collaboration. They are unavoidable. The challenge is to respond actively and appropriately. According to Dr Dinora Nieves‘ STAR method, there are 4 steps to resolving conflicts:
- Soothe: pause, take a deep breath and cool down to avoid an unreasonable response or even hostility. Take a mental break before entering into any discussion. You need access to your analytical brain, which is impossible while you are overwhelmed by your emotions.
- Think: who is involved and who is affected? What could be the root of the conflict? Often, it is just a misunderstanding.
- Address the issue as early as possible. Any unresolved conflict could escalate. The sooner you address it, the easier it will be to resolve. Avoid confrontation and speak to people politely with an open mind. Listen to the other person, try to understand their point of view without judging them. Beware of your tone.
- Resolve – and engage in dialogue, try to bridge gaps and aim for a win-win solution where all parties can benefit and return to successful cooperation.