the episode

Ken Cloke is a conflict resolution expert. In this conversation with Lorraine Ball, he shares some very simple tactics you can employ to diffuse a difficult situation.

1) Ask the other person, why is this so important to you? Why are you fighting so hard to win? Often when you ask that you can identify underlying issues which are really at play.

2) Take ownership of the conflict and ask the other person, what you can do to reduce the tension.

KEY TAKEAWAY: Successfully resolving conflict boils down to your ability to manage your responses to the behavior of others. 

our guest ken cloke

Kenneth Cloke has been a mediator, arbitrator, coach, consultant, and trainer for over forty years, specializing in communication, collaborative negotiation, dialogue, resolving disputes, and designing preventative conflict resolution systems.

He has done conflict resolution work in over 20 countries, and is founder and first President of Mediators Beyond Borders.