from Module 1: Discussion Board 1.

1 - Attitude, Mental Models, and the Professional Approach

to Conflict in the Workplace."
Oct 18, 2022 8:06PM
Dyan Babbitt
Prompt #1: Introduce yourself and please include what your expectations for the class are.
Hello, my name is Dyan Babbitt, I live in southern California with my husband and 6 year old
son. I am taking this class as part of my major but I do hope to gain some insight into dealing
with conflict better. I tend to see pettiness at work and I think I have already gained some insight
simply by watching the movie and also by reading the introduction in the text.
Prompt #2: Put yourself in the shoes of Nelson Mandela. Identify what you would be thinking
and how you would feel about your captors as you emerged from 27 years of hard labor in
prison.
I would be relieved of course, especially after 27 years. I would probably be so angry and filled
with hate after 27 years of prison and hard labor. I don't think I would come out trying to build
change in a country. I wouldn't even be thinking about how to make peace with my captors, I
would simply be filled with rage and negative emotions and thoughts.
Prompt #3: What advice was Mandela receiving from his close associates and how was he
responding?
The advice he was receiving were messages built off hate and mistrust. He responded set on his
ideas of a country together, a rainbow country. He was clear in his ideas that building trust would
be hard, but over time the conflicts would be resolved. I love how his interest in the rugby team
helped build the country and strengthen them. It is definitely a different path to resolve conflict.
Prompt #4: What’s so unusual about his responses to the advice he’s receiving?
I would assume a president would be easy to sway to advice from council, however he was not
swayed. At times his team seemed to doubt his approach and yet his ideas prevailed. Mandela
stood his ground in his ideas to help fix the country, and responded with love in his words.
Prompt #5: What lessons can you take away from how Nelson Mandela decided to deal with the
conflict in his country?
I think the most important lesson is to lead with heart and compassion. Giving into the anger and
hate will only feed the negative ideals and negative ways of a team. Standing out against this
hate and trying to lead with courage and compassion might help provide a solution that everyone
is satisfied with.
Prompt #6: What lessons can you apply to your concept of leadership from observing the
approach of President Mandela?
I think the same lessons from the above prompt apply here. Leading with compassion and not
hate will bring different solutions. Being open to the thoughts of the team and try and find a way
to appease everyone on the team, at least in a way that everyone is happy with.
Prompt #7: After watching the clip, “I Know a Way Out of Hell,” how would you describe
Gandhi’s response to the Hindu father whose child was killed and who murdered a Muslim
child? What is unusual about this response? How would you apply the word "healing" to
Gandhi's response?
I can see how upsetting and confusing it would be to hear those words. I think this can be called
healing because it would have the man show compassion and do something that he would not
normally do in a place where religion was segregated. I think over time, this would maybe cause
him to forgive and forgive himself for the crimes he committed and endured.
Prompt #8: Consider your own Mental Model regarding conflict. Which of the following one
or two approaches to conflict resolution are you most likely to utilize: Avoidance, Aggression,
Integration, Accommodation, Compromise? Identify problems with your approach? Identify
benefits of your approach?
I love to think my mental model would be compromise, and I believe that is mostly true. In some
instances, I let aggression rule my mind and others avoidance reigns. I think not taking time to
acknowledge and appreciate the conflict, I will just lash out with feelings and make it worse. I
think there are benefits when I use compromise, but maybe compromise can still be improved by
being open to other solutions and thinking outside the box.