Northouse, Introduction to Leadership: Concepts and Practice, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
Discussion Questions
Chapter 11: Managing Conflict
1. Which of the five conflict styles is most difficult for you to implement? Why?
2. How do you feel when engaged in conflict? What metaphor describes your feeling: Is
conflict like war? A game? A mess? A trial?
3. Think about a conflict you had with a supervisor, co-worker, or group member. How did
the interaction make you feel about yourself?
4. As a leader, when is it appropriate for you to engage in conflict?
5. Think about the last interpersonal conflict in which you were involved. How soon did
you become aware that a conflict had developed? What were the signs?
9. Recall a conflict you had with a supervisor or co-worker. What was your position in the
conflict? What were your interests in the conflict? What were your supervisor’s or co–
worker’s position and interests? Did you realize the difference at the time?
10. How would you use the Fisher and Ury method of principled negotiation in a conflict that
concerns different values?
11. In what ways are societal conflicts different from interpersonal conflicts? What concepts
from this chapter would be helpful to use in any conflict situation?
12. Think of your experiences in voluntary group settings (e.g., teams, school organizations,
13. In what ways is conflict resolution different if you are the one experiencing the conflict
versus the one mediating between others in conflict?
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership: Concepts and Practice, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
14. Does being in a leadership position make it easier or more challenging to resolve your
own conflicts with group members?
15. After completing the Conflict Style Questionnaire, how well does your most-frequently
used style work for you? When is it not so effective?