Prompt #1: Introduce yourself and please include what your expectations for the class are.

Hello, my name is Leo and I’m currently in my Senior year of school with only two semesters remaining
after this semester. The degree that I am in the works of completing is a BS in Organizational Leadership.
With that in mind, I look forward to really getting better with conflict at work. This I know is one of my
weakest links and something that I am fully aware of. I’m hoping after completing this class I am able to
have a better understanding and approach to conflict not only at work but also at any point in my life.

Prompt #2: Put yourself in the shoes of Nelson Mandela. Identify what you would be thinking and how
you would feel about your captors as you emerged from 27 years of hard labor in prison.

I believe as a normal human with emotions that are still unstable, there would be a great deal of hatred
for those people who placed me in there but coming from his point of view I would see the reflection
happen. With that being ways of bettering myself and taking the positive out of a negative situation. This
is something that I have been trying to be better with. To forgive those who have done me harm.

Prompt #3: What advice was Mandela receiving from his close associates and how was he responding?

His close associate seemed to always be on the defensive with things. He seemed to always come to the
negative before Mandela tells him how things are. He shoots down the negativity right away and shows
him how things can be done without it having to be negative. This also seems to be the same for a lot of
the people in his life. I was really happy to see him stick to his own ways and not let other’s comments
affect him.

Prompt #4: What’s so unusual about his responses to the advice he’s receiving?

No matter what Mandela says everyone does not believe in what he is planning to accomplish with
getting an entire country and team to support him and see his dreams for they then can see their own. A
lot of people, including those in the house with him seem to share a lot of doubt but they still seem to
hold on to the idea that maybe Mandela is right and that a miracle can happen.

Prompt #5: What lessons can you take away from how Nelson Mandela decided to deal with the conflict
in his country?

I never thought that someone could come around with something as simple as a sports team, but I guess
when you take something that once was great and shows how great it can be again, it can really build up
the morale in people and in those who start believing in your vision.

Prompt #6: What lessons can you apply to your concept of leadership from observing the approach of
President Mandela?

I believe the best approach that I can take away from this to bring into my leadership role is to be
mindful. I believe being aware of what you are thinking and how to respond to things are keys to
becoming a successful leader. Plus, to also forgive those who have done me wrong because you never
know where they are coming from.

Prompt #7: After watching the clip, “I Know a Way Out of Hell,” how would you describe Gandhi’s
response to the Hindu father whose child was killed and who murdered a Muslim child? What is
unusual about this response? How would you apply the word "healing" to Gandhi's response?
 I don’t believe this was something unusual. I do believe that was the best cores of action since he could
not get his son back but seemed to hold a great hatred to those who took his son away. I do guess in a
sense to make it “unusual” is the fact he told him to adopt a boy who was of the same as those who
killed his son and to raise him. I think once the Hindu father was to see it from where Gandhi was
coming from, would he truly heal and understand why it was so important to do.

Prompt #8: Consider your own Mental Model regarding the conflict. Which of the following one or two
approaches to conflict resolution are you most likely to utilize: Avoidance, Aggression, Integration,
Accommodation, Compromise? Identify problems with your approach? Identify the benefits of your
approach?

This for me depends on if it is work-related or family. Most of the time with my father my conflict tends
to lean about aggression. When in work it started with avoidance since I was too scared on how to
handle such conflict. Where I stand now at work I am much more towards compromise. With the
approach I take with my father, I think I could find a better way about going about dealing with my
conflict with him. Since we always seem to fight because of being belittled and not understood, I seem
to lose my temper a lot. If I was to come at it a much calmer way, it would bring better results and fewer
fights. At work, I had taken a mindful notice a few years ago at the anxiety I faced with conflict at work,
but I have been able to talk with myself and tell myself how much better it is to get it acknowledged and
confront it head-on. Not only does this stop the conflict from staying dormant and building up but it
helps address how each person feels and what better ways we can go about our jobs to make it a better
place.