Reader Reviews

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L. Sutherland — The Hague, Netherlands

A Practical, Inspiring Guide You’ll Actually Use

Conflict happens: at work, at home, everywhere people interact. Most of us would rather avoid it, but that usually leaves us unprepared when the heat is on. What I appreciate most about Conflict Fix-it Guide is that it doesn’t just tell you why conflict skills matter, it gives you clear, repeatable ways to practice them.

Michael has a rare talent for making complex dynamics easy to grasp. His writing is engaging and approachable, and the “Book in Brief” section alone is worth the price. You’ll get useful insights in just five minutes. But the real value is in the depth: practical templates for handling conflict in the moment, thoughtful guidance for debriefing afterward, and even preparation strategies for the tough conversations you dread.

This isn’t just theory. Michael’s reminders that “words build bridges - or walls” and that shifting from blame to problem-solving “turns opponents into partners” are backed by step-by-step techniques you can try immediately. The book doubles as a workbook and a field guide you’ll want to return to again and again.

And it’s not just for beginners. There are entire chapters for those who want to go deeper: the leaders, facilitators, and professionals who need to transform bigger conflicts into opportunities.

The bottom line: if you want to stop conflict from managing you, and instead use it as a tool for growth, innovation, and respect, this is a book you’ll be glad to have in your corner.

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Michael Rowswell

Excellent Conflict Resolution Tool

The Conflict Fix-It Guide can be used by mediators, negotiators, meeting facilitators, and others that experience mild to major conflict to navigate disputes successfully. Using the fundamental principle of uncovering common interests, the book presents adaptable templates and concepts for analyzing a conflict, building a strategy for a productive conversation, and for arriving at a collaborative solution. Conflict can be constructive rather than disruptive. This book shows how in a succinct and well-reasoned fashion.

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doxxie lover

Many needed this book years ago.

Oh Boy, I would have loved having this book 30 or 40 management years ago. It could have steered me away from many tactless blunders. I confess to breaking every cautionary example offered here. These errors cost time, respect, money, and improved results. Yes, you may have learned to be a polite listener and questioner. But many conflicts are insistently diverse. You may need the full array of methods offered here. The book nicely speaks for itself. It is a synthesis of opportunities. Enjoy

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JLMerchant

The toolbox you've been looking for to resolve conflicts

This book is appropriately named a fix-it guide; it has the kind of detailed instructions that a leader needs when they're overwhelmed with a conflict they cannot seem to resolve. Mike takes you through the elements of conflict and addresses them one by one. I particularly appreciate the Quick Start guides: they provide a handy reference you can print and take to that scary meeting where it's all going to come to a head. Armed with the instructions, you can follow Mike's methodical approach to figuring out what's really going on behind the scenes. That process uncovers a way to find consensus that leads to agreement. This book is a must-have for serious leaders.

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CodyZeno

Practical and easy to use

This book teaches tools to understand what really matters in conflicts, and how to help people work together to find solutions. It is direct, organized, and easy to understand. Its discussions of reframing are particularly strong and useful. It is just what I always wanted when I was beginning to mediate, and we should give every Senior Mediator a copy when they qualify. And I very much wish the Field Guide had been available when I first started mediating.

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Sam Imperati

Stop dithering... Get this book!

Michael Fraidenburg’s Conflict Fix-It Guide is a grab-and-go system that mirrors real cases: Map → Talk → Resolve. He teaches interests over positions with a memorable iceberg, then backs it all up with quick-start panels and a running case that leaders will recognize. Triage, strategic questioning, three-step reframing, and the “good enough” standard make this instantly coachable, while the template bank turns agreements into action. Bottom line: clear, humane, pragmatic – the kind of fieldcraft managers actually use.

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Ethan J. Mings — Ontario, Canada

Practical and Insightful Guide to Handling Conflict

Conflict Fix-It Guide by Michael Fraidenburg (2025) is a refreshing and practical resource for anyone working with conflict—whether in life, at work, or in the community. I found it both enjoyable and easy to read, packed with actionable strategies that can be applied before, during, and after mediation.

What stood out to me most were the author’s three cornerstone tools—Conflict Mapping, Conversation Strategy, and Collaborative Resolution. Each one offers a clear framework for understanding conflict dynamics and guiding constructive conversations. These tools are not just theoretical; they are rooted in Fraidenburg’s many years of hands-on experience, which gives the book credibility and practicality.

I particularly appreciated the emphasis on constructive conflict—the idea that conflict, when handled thoughtfully, can actually open doors to new perspectives, stronger relationships, and better outcomes. The included guide sheets and tips make it easy to turn these ideas into practice.

Whether you’re a mediator, a leader, or simply someone navigating everyday disagreements, this book is worth adding to your personal library. It’s also a perfect resource to keep on your digital device for quick reference whenever you find yourself in a challenging situation.

A valuable, experience-based guide for anyone seeking to approach conflict with clarity, confidence, and constructive purpose.

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Katrina Bevan — New Zealand

I recently came across The Conflict Fix-It Guide by Michael Fraidenburg while preparing for my very first workplace mediation here in New Zealand, involving a difficult case of bullying. As someone new to the mediation process, I was looking for something practical, easy to understand, and supportive—and this book absolutely delivered.

What makes this guide stand out is how accessible it is. Fraidenburg takes concepts that could easily feel overwhelming or academic and translates them into clear, real-world language that anyone can grasp. I never once felt lost or bogged down in jargon. Instead, I came away with confidence, concrete strategies, and a sense that mediation—even in tough situations—can be a constructive and hopeful process.

On a personal note, the author’s generosity really impressed me. Michael not only wrote an excellent guide, but he also offered me a free one-on-one session, which was invaluable. His practical insights and calm approach reinforced everything I had learned in the book and gave me the reassurance I needed to walk into mediation with courage.

If you are facing conflict at work or in your personal life—or if you simply want to be better prepared to handle disagreements with skill—I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is approachable, practical, and written with genuine care for people navigating difficult situations.

This guide gave me clarity, tools I could immediately apply, and peace of mind at a time I really needed it. Five stars without hesitation.

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Jennie Lou Shirer

“If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see everything as a nail.” This is why we need a toolkit. Michael Fraidenburg provides a Swiss Army Knife with his CONFLICT FIX-IT GUIDE and carefully explains each gadget. Then we are encouraged to not only use these tools for a single purpose, but how to fit them to our individual needs in identifying core values, underlying needs and the materials to build lasting resolutions that can grow and adjust with the future needs of those concerned.

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Veronika Smrčková — Prague, Czechia

I read quite a few books about conflict resolution and most of them just touch the surface. They explain some pretty abstract concept for finding the common grounds, recommend some simple "analysis", naming the problems and that miraculously help to solve them. Fraidenburg's book is completely different. It starts with a concept, but then it offers many detailed tools you can utilize every day. Huge checklists for detailed analysis, quick reference guide as a first aid kit and then tons of techniques you can use during the conversation. And of course it doesn't stop at the problem and the participants, but offers also techniques for the facilitator to stay calm and focused. I will refer to it from now every time when I sense a conflict in my team that needs my intervention.

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Michael C. Howard, MS. B.S.Ed., CERP, AWI-CH

As a ‘seasoned’ Small Business and Workplace mediator and negotiator of over 20 years, I found The Conflict Fix-It Guide to be an immensely helpful and refreshing resource. Michael Fraidenburg has crafted a guide that doesn’t just revisit the fundamentals—it reawakens them. His clear layout of different guides and the inclusion of suggestive questions made it easy to reconnect with core skills and techniques I hadn’t used in years and some I hadn’t tried.

What stood out most was the structure: each section felt like a mini-workshop, offering both insight and actionable steps. The tone is encouraging, never preachy, and the content is grounded in real-world application. Whether you’re a veteran mediator/facilitator/negotiator looking to dust off your toolkit or someone newer to the field, this book offers something quite valuable.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants to re-engage with conflict resolution in a thoughtful, practical way!

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