In the HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict, Amy Gallo and 37 “Guest Experts” explain how to ensure that disagreements do not become lose-lose arguments in the workplace…or anywhere else.

Here is a plan to consider:

“First, you need to know the various sources of conflict…There are four main types: relationship (a personal disagreement), task(disagreement over what the goal is), process (disagreement over the means or process of achieving the goal), and status (disagreement over your standing in the group).”

“The second piece of information is to understand your options.” In general, there are four from which to choose when confronting the conflict: do nothing (more common than you may think), address the conflict indirectly, address the conflict directly (the focus of this book), and finally, your last resort, is to exit the relationship.

“The third and final aspect to having a more productive conflict is to know what people’s natural tendencies are when it comes to conflict.” Avoiders tend to shy away or even hide from disagreements; Seekers are more eager to engage in conflict when it arises (or even find ways to create it).

Gallo thoroughly explains how to make these assessments in the first three chapters.

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Amy Gallo is a contributing editor to Harvard Business Review. As a speaker and workshop facilitator, she helps all manner of organizations to deal more effectively with conflict. To learn more about her and her work, please click here.