THINK
LIKE A
LAWYER
DON'T
ACT LIKE
ONE

DO
YOU
HAVE
A
CONFLICT?

Do
you
feel
like
punching
the
other
party
in the
face?

Never 
 lose 
 sight

In a conflict, it is difficult to keep your focus on the goal.
Take this Taekwondo fighter. He's missed out on the bronze medal and he's pissed. In his rage, he kicks the referee. No doubt he's blowing off a lot of steam, but he's also saying goodbye to any chance of an Olympic medal - which, after all, is what he wants.
You'll only achieve your objective if you focus on it.

Does
that
bloody
conflict
control
your
life?

You 
 will 
 laugh 
 about 
 it, 
 afterwards

Ask someone in the aftermath of a conflict: "Did it turn out alright?" The answer is always "yes".
When you're in the middle of the storm of a conflict, It always seems more serious than it is. Try to be conscious of this during the conflict. It will give you serenity.

Is
the
other
party
more
powerful
than
you
are?

Find 
 his 
 weak 
 spot

During the stare-off in the freefighting ring on New Year's eve, Heath Herring floored his opponent Yoshihiro Nakao before the starting bell. He yelled: "He kissed me on the lips like a homosexual!" he shouts. "I'm not gay!" Herring is disqualified and Nakao wins without landing a single blow - but with a well-placed kiss. Yoshihiro "Kiss" Nakao found Herring's weakest spot.

Are
you
wondering
why
this
is
happening
to
you?

Don't 
 take 
 it 
 personally

Are you facing a selfish boss, creditor or a annoying client? Is he letting you have it? Denials, insidious insinuations, low blows or downright insults?
Don't take it personally. Stay cool. Think of yourself as the representative of your own virtual limited liability company: "Me, myself and I, Inc." All those words will flow of you, like water off a duck's back.

Is
the
other
party
being
unreasonable?

See 
 the 
 monkey 
 inside

Is the other guy extremely unreasonable? Does he claim he’s right, but is the guy unquestionably wrong? Many would react by trying to justify his conduct. However, there is no justification. But there is an explanation. He simply wants to win, to triumph. Typical alpha-male behavior. So, forget justification. Just identify your opponent's alphamale driver, and you have the key to solving your conflict.

Do
you
feel
like
playing
hardball?

Hard 
 on the 
 problem, 
 soft 
 on the 
 people

If you're hard on the other party, you'll create a conflict.
If you're soft on the issue, you'll end up regretting the concessions you make.
So, be hard when it comes to the issue at hand, but soft on the person across from you.
Being hard means that you stand by your principles, by what is essential for you. You don't make any unacceptable concessions. This may be the most valuable lesson in conflict management.

Are
you
convinced
the
other
party
is
wrong?

Falsify 
 our 
 views!

If you believe your opponent is an immoral scoundrel, then you'll go looking for hard evidence to prove it. You want to convince yourself and the outside world that you're right. And he who seeks shall find. This happens a lot - it's called confirmation bias. Do you do this? Well, stop doing it. Try to find evidence to the contrary, for evidence that you're wrong. Not easy, but possible - and very inspiring. Chances are you'll discover another angle from which to approach your conflict, which will lead you closer to a solution.