The Workplace Wizard: the definitive guide to working with others (2002) McCann, D., Brisbane: Gwent Publishing (available in UK from TMS, York)

This book, though not directly about conflict, has much to offer in so far as it focuses on a combination of work preference, risk orientation and work values. Each focus helps us appreciate differences between people that create considerable difficulties in relationship and in particular during conflict. Work preferences, similar to MBTI personality preference, highlight the tensions between different roles and work preferences, and like the values framework demonstrates how these differences can lead us to finding fault in others unless we understand the way in which opposing types can complement each other and lead to greater team performance.They can equally be applied or adapted to transform destructive conflict into productive outcomes.

The risk orientation section highlights the tensions that may arise between people whose orientation is towards the future and those who identify more with the past. This is particularly useful for dealing with conflict during times of change. McCann describes the tensions that manifest readily between those who see their desired future as being in the future and those who see times gone by as being more idyllic.As with values and work preferences, he describes many ways for integrating the risk-orientation polarities in a creative and constructive manner when applied to decisions, communication and action. McCann emphasises rather than minimises these differences in pursuit of better teamwork and tells a salutary tale of the “Perfect Harmony school” where mediocrity, dissatisfaction leads to the eventual demise of the school arising our of attempts to create equality between the different animals attending the school.