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Conflict Resolution

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February 9 and 10, 2026

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What are some key conflicts?

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  • Board (internal or external )
  • Association
  • Personnel (not Association related; employee-employee)
  • Community expectations

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What is the nature of the conflict?

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  • Processes/Decision-Making
  • Data/Information
  • Projected Outcomes
  • Interpersonal
  • Group Dynamics

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What is the interest of the parties in resolving the conflict?

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  • Is continuing the conflict beneficial to one party?
  • Does the conflict have legal implications?
  • Is there a path to resolution of the conflict?
  • Will both parties accept such a path and/or resolution?

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Process/Decision-Making Conflicts

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  • How does the work get done?

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  • Who does the work?

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  • Who will be making the decisions? Which ones?

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Process/Decision-Making Strategies

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  • Collaboratively describe the purpose/task

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  • Who is the leader and what authority do they have?

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  • Clarify roles, expectations and decision-making authority

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Data/Information Conflicts

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  • What data is available? What is needed?

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  • How will the data be collected?

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  • How accurate is the available data?

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  • How is the data being interpreted?

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Data/Information Strategies

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  • Determine what data is available

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  • Determine what additional data is needed?

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  • How reliable and valid is the data?

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  • Ensure that the data is understandable

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Outcome Conflicts

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  • Why are we doing this?

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  • What is our task?

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  • How will we go about doing the task?

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Outcome Strategies

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  • Collaboratively describe the goal/purpose

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  • What are the shared outcomes?

  • Does the approach make sense?

  • Document areas of disagreement for later discussion

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Interpersonal Conflicts

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  • Tension between individuals

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  • Is it about roles?

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  • Is it about communication?

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  • Is it about values/beliefs, ethics, priorities or equity?

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Interpersonal Strategies

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  • Focus on interests, not positions
  • Separate people from the positions/issues
  • Use neutral, respectful communication
  • Seek to understand

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Group Dynamic Conflicts

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  • Is it about lack of clarity regarding purposes within the group?

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  • Is it about leadership?

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  • Is it about the roles of individuals?

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Group Dynamic Strategies

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  • Who is the leader and what authority do they have?
  • Anticipate and address issues early
  • Develop group norms/protocols for input, discussions and decisions
  • Create a culture for psychological safety
  • Generate options/solutions collaboratively

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What is the interest of the parties in resolving the conflict?

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  • Is continuing the conflict beneficial to one party?
  • Does the conflict have legal implications?
  • Is there a path to resolution of the conflict?
  • Will both parties accept such a path and/or resolution?

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Mediation?

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  • Separate the people from the problem
  • Focus on interests, not positions
  • Seek options with mutual gain
  • Use objective criteria

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Mingling? (Water Cooler/Staff Room Conversations)

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  • Impromptu/chance meetings
  • Opens communication
  • Builds relationships based on interactions, not positions
  • Brings a “human element” to the conversation
  • May help identify common ground

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Thank you!

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oregoneducationalcollaborative@gmail.com

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Oregoneducationalcollaborative.com

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