PRACTITIONERS WORKSHEET FOR THE CIRCLE OF CONFLICT MODEL

Relationship Drivers

Value Drivers

Externals/Moods Drivers

Data Drivers

Structure Drivers

Interests 1. Diagnose and list the causes of your conflict situation using the Five Drivers: Values, Relationships, Moods/Externals, Data and Structure 2. Develop a full list of each partys Interests (wants, needs, fears, hopes):

Party A:
Interest:

Party B:
Interest:

3. Guide the intervention to focus on the bottom half of the Circle Data. Structure and Interests:

Data Strategy Questions:

What data is different between the parties?

What data can be collected jointly?

What connect-the-dots assumptions or interpretations are the parties making about the data?

What assumptions about other parties motives are being made

What data substantiates assumptions?

the

What data assumptions?

contradicts

the

Other Data issues:

Structure Strategy Questions:

What limited resource problems are the parties facing? What other resources can the parties brig to the table

Where is lack of authority a significant problem? What processes can be used to address the lack of authority?

How divergent are the parties priorities? What is the process for aligning the parties priorities?

Other structure issues?

Interest Strategy Questions:

What is the full range of parties interests?

Given the parties full range of interests, what are their common interests?

Where can the parties dovetail their interests?

Other Interests issues?

What if the dispute is stuck in Values:

Have the parties share information about their values Look for common or superordinate values the parties share. Focus on the common values as a way of minimizing the competing values. Separate areas of influence, so that one party runs finances, and the other handles operations, for example. Agree to disagree on values, and shift discussion to parties Interests, i.e. what they want given that they have competing values. Gently uncover incongruous values held by a party.

What if the dispute is stuck in Negative Relationship Issues:

Take a future focus and help them look at what needs to change to improve the situation; a past focus tends to focus on blame Help them develop a vision of the ideal future and brain storm with them how they can get there Find out specifically what each party needs to see from the other party to change their perception of them. Help them commit to making those changes. Focus them on their interests, and what they need to get past the Relationship issues Help them agree to small steps that will build trust, and begin to change their perception of each other in the relationship.

What if the dispute is stuck in External/Moods:

Acknowledge the external issues that they dont control, and focus on what they do control and/or influence Find a way to bring the people who do control negotiation, if appropriate the External influence into the

Help each party plan to deal with the External issues separately, and limit the negotiations at the table to the issues between the parties. Reconvene when the Mood or the External issue has diminished Focus them on their interests, given that they dont control the External issues.