Decision Making Skills & Problem-Solving Skills Decisions are part of the process we use to solve problems.

How to make a tough decision - Full House Style! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxRpGMeJPs8

THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS Identify the decision to be made Gather and examine information Identify possible alternatives/choices Evaluate the consequences of each alternative (pro & con list) Choose the best alternative and act on it Evaluate the results Positive consequences = satisfaction Negative consequences = learn from mistakes Always take responsibility for your decisions

APPLY: Reflection Describe two decisions that you or your family has made recently (one that turned out well and one that turned out poorly). Explain why you believe each decision turned out as it did. Lastly, summarize how you or your family could use the decision making process for an upcoming decision. Include the six steps.

Management Skills

MANAGEMENT SKILLS Goal Setting/Prioritize Identify Resources Specific goals w/ time frame Show accountability Identify Resources Aid in reaching goals, decision making, and problem solving Examples? Human, material, and community resources Implement (Act) Evaluate Example?

Conflict-Resolution Skills An approach to settling conflicts/ disagreements.

Rate Your Conflict-Resolution skills… http://bit.ly/VCuXVb

TYPES OF CONFLICT Situational Conflict Personality Differences Certain circumstances create a conflict Can occur in all kinds of relationships and in any part of daily life Can’t control the situation, but CAN control how to handle the situation Personality Differences Differences in personalities and habits Power Struggles Power: the ability to influence another person Issues are important to both sides/To get others to agree to your terms Common parent/child conflict (e.g., curfew) Need for Control (the action of directing another person’s behavior When power is the cause of the conflict, the desire for control gets in the way of a solution.

V.O.M.P. V: VENT O: OWN M: MOCCASIN P: PLAN Get it out/express Take responsibility M: MOCCASIN Put yourself in other person’s shoe (see their perspective) P: PLAN Put a plan in place so conflict doesn’t happen again http://www.primarygoals.org/models/vomp/

RESOLVING CONFLICTS Negotiate: to deal or bargain with another EXAMPLE? Compromise: giving in on some points of disagreement and having your way on others Give & Take Win-Win situation Mediator: a person who leads those in conflict to solutions without taking sides

AVOIDING CONFLICT Don’t let others irritate you Focus on the positive Change the subject Be an UPSTANDER Do what you know is RIGHT! Walk way Remember, sometimes the only thing you can CONTROL is how you HANDLE the conflict.

APPLY When Vince and his brother John bought a car together, they agreed on how to share the costs of upkeep and use of the car. Now John isn’t filling the gas tank as agreed and he takes the car when it’s not his turn. Using class concepts on conflict resolution, what should Vince do?