In life, love and work, there are times when conflict is inevitable.

Yet, for most of us, our negative attitudes toward conflict are deep-seated and long-standing. We may do anything we can to avoid it; we may fear it; at the very least, we have come to expect an unpleasant experience every time we have a conflict—whether that conflict is with a loved one, a friend, a co-worker or a perfect stranger. Sadly, our negative and fearful responses to conflict can be self-fulfilling—because we are expecting the worst, that’s often what we experience.

In this new edition of their best-selling guide to managing conflict, authors Gayle and Nabil Oudeh share the positive potential of conflict—potential that derives from making appropriate choices in how we respond to conflict. They reveal five distinct conflict management styles—the Woodpecker, the Parakeet, the Ostrich, the Owl and the Hummingbird—and explain the unique strengths and challenges of each.

Rich with candor and humor, Conflict Is for the Birds! offers a hands-on, solutions-oriented approach to turning conflict into an opportunity for problem solving and growth.

This delightful book makes conflict management a breeze. The personalities depicted are truly what you would find in the typical office and the way they are portrayed is insightful. This book will at least get you thinking properly about conflict management, if not help you resolve the difficulties you may presently be experiencing at the office. The "Conflict Management Style Assessment" is very helpful for those who manage and want to get the "bird" right, so that their team can stop giving them the bird.
Thumbs up to Gayle and Nabil, great job!

Dr. Dean C. Bellavia, The Personality Guru
Personality Finesse: How We Nurture Our Nature

Wow, this is a must-read if you've ever had workplace (or everyday life)conflicts and who doesn't? Wish I had read it several years ago when I had a manager who seemed to love 'throwing' her authority around in order to cause turmoil and conflict in the workplace! My co-worker and I used to pray something would happen to just 'get rid of her'!!(Finally she resigned - Phew!)
Resolving conflicts in a constructive way by turning it into something positive is explained throughout this book. How 'we' respond is our choice but the authors have researched and studied human behavior and come up with individual styles likened to five different bird behaviors.
I have never thought about conflict in the way it is dealt with in this delightful, insightful book but I certainly had my eyes opened after reading it and know now, there are good and bad ways to deal with conflict.

Conflict is for the Birds by Gayle and Nabil Oudeh is an excellent resource for helping college students, managers, and even parents understand the positive potential of conflict. The book is a fast read. It offers a new take on the Blake and Mouton Managerial Grid by likening the conflict resolution styles of people to certain birds. This analogy is fun and serves as an effective tool to help readers retain the practical information presented in the book. Conflicts inevitably arise at work and home. Armed with new knowledge, we can make appropriate choices in how we respond to conflict and turn conflict into an opportunity for problem solving and growth.

Co-authored by Gayle Wiebe Oudeh and Nabil Oudeh (both of whom are senior consultants for the Centre for Conflict Resolution, an Ottawa-based consulting firm specializing in conflict management and training) , Conflict Is For The Birds!: Understanding Your Conflict Management Style is an informed introduction and instructional reference for analyzing workplace conflicts and dealing productively and cautiously through the process of conflict resolution. Mapping out an easy-to-follow guide through conflict management, Conflict Is For The Birds! offers readers a complete and thorough approach for dealing with all manner of conflict scenarios utilizing a helpful and distinctive images of the woodpecker, the parakeet, the ostrich, the owl, and the hummingbird, along with their various strengths and tactics based upon their individual mentalities. Exceptionally "reader friendly", Conflict Is For The Birds! is very strongly recommended for all managers and supervisors, as well as anyone else, in need of a comprehensive and accessible guide through troubling encounters, disputes, or differences.