Most of us can remember a time when we have interacted with a person whose conversational style was either more emotional or more direct than we were comfortable with.  Or, alternatively, we have been the one on the other side of that equation: we were perceived as too "rational" or too "obscure" by our conversational partner.  The ICS conflict style model uses a four-quadrant model that is easy to grasp when depicted visually (see links tab) : direct-indirect on one axis & emotionally engaged or disengaged on the other.  While it doesn't directly teach conflict resolution or civil discourse, it does help set up a trusting space for difficult dialogues & for negotiations of difference.  And it comes with a complementary Facilitator manual!   

One of the challenges of this assessment tool is finding appropriate examples of each style to help participants gain a firm grasp on how they manifest. We have found that video clips work really well, but they present additional challenges. It is difficult to find examples that don't also rely on stereotypes.

We first became aware of this scene from Hum Tum in sessions with Mick Vande Berg when he would explain the Dynamic Style (indirect communication and highly expressive--lower right quadrant) of the Intercultural Conflict Style Inventory (ICS).