Conflict management coaching, also known as conflict coaching, is a one-on-one process in which a trained coach helps individuals gain increased competence and confidence to independently manage their interpersonal disputes or to engage in ADR processes designed to assist them, i.e. mediation. In either case, conflict management coaching is a goal-oriented and future-focused process that concentrates on assisting individual clients to reach their specific conflict management objectives.
Goals may be:
- To increase aspects of one’s conflict competence to be able to better engage in and manage interpersonal disputes.
- To explore what, if anything, to do about a dispute that has already occurred.
- To consider the most appropriate strategies, choices, and solutions regarding a conflict that is currently in progress.
- To consider how to proactively approach a situation to prevent an unnecessary dispute.
- To prepare for a one-on-one interaction, for example, a performance review, disciplinary conversation or other situation that is expected to be fractious.
- To prepare to present a topic to a group that is likely to bring about adverse reactions.
- To talk out thoughts and feelings about a difficult situation.
- To prepare for mediation or another process such as negotiation, mediation, arbitration, trial, grievance, collaborative law or group facilitation.
Coaching is also a mechanism used by self-represented litigants to participate in legal processes.