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PHILANTHROPY NEWS DIGEST  • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Resolving Conflict in Nonprofit Organizations: The Leader's Guide to Finding Constructive Solutions, by Marion Peters Angelica. St. Paul: Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, 1999. How many times have you experienced conflict and not known how to solve it? Perhaps it was an argument you had at home, a situation you currently face at work, or even a conflict within yourself. In today's nonprofit world, diversity is the watchword. And the demand for information and the speed at which we receive it is greater than ever. As a result, the likelihood of situations developing in which people have different perspectives, ideas, and styles that create conflict is growing. Effective leaders need to deal with these issues. But how does one go about learning how to do so? A close reading of Resolving Conflicts in Nonprofit Organizations by Marion Peters Angelica is a good place to start. For many, if not most, people, resolving conflict is a difficult task under the best of circumstances. Fortunately, the author, who has worked as a funder, a consultant, a teacher, and a researcher, brings her considerable experience to bear on the issue. The book is comprised of five chapters, each with a title that reinforces Angelica's view that conflict in nonprofit organizations is akin to "treacherous water and unknown seas," and that it's the job of the nonprofit leader to navigate the ship through these dangerous waters until the conflict is resolved. Chapter 1 ("What You Should Know Before Setting Sail") sets the stage by defining the term and exploring the different types of conflict that exist in nonprofit organizations. Subsequent chapters ("Maps And Charts: Practical Steps in Managing Conflict," "Sailing Hazardous Waters: Conflict Management Skills And Exercises," "The Bermuda Triangle: Conflict That Requires Special Handling," and "Tending To The Sea: Creating An Environment for Constructive Conflict") explore the subject in detail, while offering a range of visual aids, examples, and exercises that will test your skills and improve your ability to handle a range of different situations. Don't let the title fool you: Although Resolving Conflict in Nonprofit Organizations may be geared toward managers, anyone looking to brush up on their conflict-resolution skills can benefit from reading it. In the long run, it may not only help you resolve conflict at work, but also help you to navigate conflict in other areas of your life. For citations to additional literature on this topic, refer to the Literature of the Nonprofit Sector Online, using the subject heading "Nonprofit organizations-management."
— Bon Iniya
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