National Finance Center

Introduction

The most difficult workplace conflicts are those arising out of value differences. The most important thing is to understand the real cause of the differences. Yet every resolution of a conflict can also feed a new conflict in a group. It is, therefore, useful to see conflicts as a series of expressions of existing differences within a group, having some links to each other. How effectively a group deals with conflict management largely affects the efficiency level of its functioning.

Vision

The vision of the Conflict Prevention Program is to create an environment where workplace conflicts and disputes are settled through education, productive dialogues and mutual agreements as an alternative to understand value differences.

Mission

The mission is to help all OCFO employees to avoid and better deal with workplace conflict, conflict with peers, conflict with customers and other agencies. To reach this goal, the Conflict Prevention Program will focus on three areas:

1. Developing OCFO’s employee skills for preventing conflict
2. Increasing employee competencies in interpersonal skills and group dynamics
3. Creating a CPP Library/Resource Center

Objectives

• Increase the awareness of OCFO’s employees concerning the services of the CRCMO’s CPP
• Increase the self-awareness of OCFO employees concerning their leadership and individual conflict management styles, and clarify the expectations of the leader and his or her employees
• Conduct individual coaching and classroom training as needed in areas relating to communications, managing conflict, and team building
• Conduct ADR training to new supervisors and experience managers to communicate the value of ADR to the organization
• Create CPP library/resource center with updated conflict prevention and management literature, pamphlets, books, and audio visual training aids

Methodology

• Educate OCFO about the Conflict Prevention Program
• Provide learning experiences to OCFO employees concerning Conflict Management Styles and associated topics such as Interpersonal Skills, Group Dynamics, Organizational Dynamics, Leadership Principles, and Management Models
• Provide learning experiences to OCFO employees concerning conflict-related topics such Anger Management, Stress Management and Time Management
• Provide ADR training and coaching to OCFO employees as needed
• Provide a user-friendly self-study CPP resource center
  • Introduction to Conflict
  • Conflict Resolution
  • The Conflict Management Process and Management Styles
  • UDSA Dealing with Workplace Conflict and Concerns*
  • Organizational Culture and Group Dynamics
  • Workplace Harassment: A handbook for Supervisor & Managers*
  • Dimensions of Leadership
  • Let’s Get Honest*
  • Who Moved My Cheese*
  • Dealing with Difficult People
  • Bullying in the Workplace
  • Diversity Face To Face*
  • Anger Management
  • Stress Management
  • Conflict and Personal Safety
  • Emerging Managers and Coaches
  • Leadership in a Diverse and Multicultural Environment*
  • Legal Issues in the Workplace
  • Managing for Results
  • Managing Conflict and Change in the Workplace
  • Managing Time and Diversity
  • Building Effective Teams & Continuous Improvement
  • Attitude, Accountability, and Decision Making in the Workplace
  • Appling ADR in the Federal Workplace*
  • Executing Settlement Agreements*

*Denotes Resource/Training aids on hand. Will continue to add/update as financial resources allow.

Note: While these learning experiences are focused especially towards the reduction and management of conflict within the organization, they are equally applicable as general personal development subjects.