The Way of Conflict: Elemental Wisdom for Resolving Disputes and Transcending Differences

Deidre Combs

Feb 2011 · New World Library

About this ebook

The Way of Conflict teaches strategies for using ancient wisdom and modern techniques to confidently engage in any dispute and reach a balanced resolution. This groundbreaking book integrates the wealth of conflict skills found throughout the world’s major religious and indigenous traditions with the latest scientific systems and conflict resolution theory. It uses the cross-cultural metaphor of the four natural elements — earth, water, fire, and air — to identify the innate conflict personality types and propose a productive path through the chaos of conflict. Combining her extensive experience as a licensed mediator and corporate trainer with wisdom gained from years of spiritual study, Combs uses assessment tests, anecdotes from indigenous and religious traditions, and illustrative folktales to show how to quickly assess a conflict and implement an appropriate resolution strategy.

About the author

Dr. Deidre Combs developed The Way of Conflict through extensive research and a national workshop series. She grounds the system in twenty years of corporate experience, a decade-long mediation and coaching/consulting practice and fourteen years of parenting. She began a full-time corporate career at IBM in 1985 and soon became a project manager in IBM's Healthcare and Global Services divisions; successfully managing a variety of technical, subcontract, and marketing teams over the next seven years. In 1992, she founded Combs and Company and became a credentialed mediator. Combs and Company, Inc. provides facilitation, conflict strategies, training, and executive and team coaching services. Combs and Company's clients include IBM, SolCom Incorporated, Land Mine Survivor's Network, Montana Public School Administrators, Montana State University, Young President's Organization, American Leadership Forum, US Postal Service, and US Forest Service among its many corporate, start-up and non-profit clients. She is also a doctoral faculty member of University of Creation Spirituality, a master's degree instructor for Naropa University, and an interfaith minister. She lives with her husband and their three children in the Rocky Mountains.