The Conflict Resolution Toolbox

"I wish I had your toolbox"

I hear that all the time.

Hi there, I'm Tammy Lenski. Maybe you know me from one of my conflict resolution books, my podcast, or my long-running conflict resolution blog.

I started developing my conflict resolution toolbox 20 years ago when I first started out as a professional mediator, coach, and consultant. I wanted more techniques for helping people stay calm under pressure, creative ways to solve problems and overcome deadlock, tools to improve communication and collaboration, and techniques to confront without damaging the relationship.

Since then I've field-tested countless methods and techniques, made complicated ideas understandable as a conflict resolution prof, and translated scientific research into practical strategies and techniques.

Now I want to share my toolbox with you.

Introducing the Conflict Resolution Toolbox

The Conflict Resolution Toolbox is organized into four "compartments":

Toolbox foundations: How to use the tools effectively

Tools are only useful when we choose the right tool for the task, learn how to use it well, and use it at the right time. The foundations section of Toolbox will help you learn how to do just that.

Communication tools: How we express ourselves and listen

There's a lot of background noise in conflict, negotiations, and other difficult conversations. What we say, how we say it, how well we listen, and how well we bring our curiosity to the table can make the situation better -- or worse. The communication tools I've selected help quiet the background noise and enable us to detect the core signals needing attention.

Attitude tools: The frame of mind we bring to the conversation

The attitude we bring to a difficult conversation -- what we think and feel, how centered and calm we are, the perspective we take, how well we support the needs of our conversation partner -- plays a crucial role in the conversation's outcomes. The attitude tools I've selected help others (and ourselves) bring their best to the table.

Process tools: How we orchestrate the conversation

We can improve the quality of decisions and increase the likelihood that agreements will stand the test of time by the way we structure the conversation, frame the problem to be solved, and generate solutions. The process tools I've selected help you be more strategic during problem solving.

How it works

You'll get full lifetime access to all of the available tools:

• 100+ of the best tools and articles from 20 years of writing about and doing conflict resolution professionally, organized by tool type to make them easily accessible to you.
• Some of the tools are exercises you can do with employees or clients. Some are specific questions that can unlock a specific situation. Some are techniques and when to use them. Some are "tools of insight," articles that share insights from my 20+ years as a conflict resolution teacher, mediator, and coach.
• Opportunity to ask questions about using the tools and get answers directly from me.
• Supplemental material to add to your toolbox, such as book recommendations and links to tools elsewhere.
• Everything is online, accessible 24/7 via whatever device you choose.
• Even better, every time I add new tools and resources, you'll get access to them automatically, at no additional charge