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When persuasion and arguing haven't helped heal a disagreement, you might "agree to disagree" and change the subject. Is there a downside to leaving an argument this way? Deborah suggests trying conflict competent options.

Dr. Deborah Sword is a conflict specialist with decades of experience and training to share.

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Both pessimism and optimism have strengths and weaknesses in conflict. There's power in pessimism and value in optimism for the conflict competent.

Dr. Deborah Sword is a conflict specialist with decades of experience and training to share.

Send us a text. We love hearing from you.

It's tempting to be aggressive to achieve the conflict outcome you prefer. Deborah demonstrates that there are other approaches that are more likely to get results you want.

Dr. Deborah Sword is a conflict specialist with decades of experience and training to share.

As much as people in conflict want to know the consequences of their decisions before they decide, the answer to most conflict questions is: it depends. There are ways to deal with uncertainty, and improve your conflict competence.

Dr. Deborah Sword is a conflict specialist with decades of experience and training to share.

Send us a text. We love hearing from you.

Sometimes, when people quarrel about whose opinion is correct and who is wrong, I use a simple easy demonstration. Afterwards, they still might not agree who has the best opinion, but they will agree that each of their opinions depends on where they get their viewpoint. Try this at home, work, socially, or wherever you want to practice your conflict competence.

Dr. Deborah Sword is a conflict specialist with decades of experience and training to share.

Conflicts over disagreeable opinions get personal so fast, and, too often, they get insulting. How can you hold such a wrong opinion, you may ask them? Here's an alternative that lets the discussion over opinions stay civil instead of turning into a fight that heats the house.

Dr. Deborah Sword is a conflict specialist with decades of experience and training to share.

Conflicts follow patterns. Changing your conflict patterns improves your conflict competence. Here are three different approaches to changing your conflict pattern. Try all three. Use whichever works for you. You’ll be glad you did.

Dr. Deborah Sword is a conflict specialist with decades of experience and training to share.

Close friends and family members can trigger your heated reactions even when you like or love each other. They think they know you even when you've grown past their image of you. You defend yourself even when you want to not react. We offer a simple (hard) technique to change the script so you can have a peaceful conversation. Our holiday gift to you.

Dr. Deborah Sword is a conflict specialist with decades of experience and training to share.