Ten Ways to Improve Executive Management of Conflict

Fish and wildlife executives I’ve known are usually quite good at managing conflict.  They are not nearly as good at preparing their organizations and employees to manage conflict.  When I ask, leaders tell me they want employees with excellent conflict management skills.  While they say this, it is an unrealized goal.  Professionals are usually on their own to acquire these skills, largely through unguided, trial-and-error learning.  This paper identifies ten actions you can take to improve your own skills and your executive management of the inevitable conflicts that come with managing the public’s natural resources.