"I have strong conflict management skills thanks to my time playing competitive team sports. As the captain of my rugby team for the past two seasons, I have had to exercise my conflict-management skills numerous times. Our team is filled with highly competitive athletes with many endorphins running through their veins during games and practices. Although positively challenging in many ways, this environment can cause conflict among teammates when misunderstandings arise. For instance, a few months ago, one team member came forward claiming that another team member was not carrying their weight in practice. He was upset that I had not noticed this other teammate's behavior. I asked the two to meet with me privately to assess the situation and talk through any underlying issues. It turns out the accused team member had been daydreaming during practice and had been late for practice a handful of times. The accusing team member wanted this person to become more present, and they wanted me to be more observant of these issues in the future. We came to a satisfactory solution, and I regularly checked in to ensure they were working nicely with each other again. I will continue to be diligent in my follow-up outside of practices and keep a keen eye on future issues. When a conflict presents itself, I like to deal with it swiftly, openly, and with total resolution. Transparency and openness are how I lead my rugby team, and I believe this approach will generate positive results throughout my career in management as well."