Conflict is an inevitable part of all relationships, be they professional or personal. Understand and utilize effective ways to resolve conflict, or it can become a ruling factor in your life. To dispense of conflict quickly and fairly, communication is key. Whether you're settling a dispute among coworkers, handling an argument between your children or dealing with opposition from a spouse, conflict resolution hinges on your ability to listen and think of fair, satisfying solutions for all parties involved.
Make an Appointment
Conflict should be met head-on, at the right time and place. Neutral ground is important when attempting to resolve conflict A person who feels as though he is on someone else's turf may become defensive when approached concerning a solution. Choose a neutral time and place, and make an appointment to deal with the conflict. This way, conflict can be solved in a calm and organized manner, with all parties involved being given ample time to think and prepare.
Plan Ahead
Too often, the heat of the moment causes conflict resolution sessions to escalate into arguments and name calling. Planning your communication and potential solutions beforehand can give you control over the situation, and allow your concerns to be heard, according to the University of Virginia Institute for Environmental Negotiation. If it helps, write down your main points before communicating, to make sure that you say everything you want to say.
Avoid Generalizations
One of the biggest problems with conflict resolution is that it often dredges up issues from the past that show hurt feelings that are still not healed. Generalizations that you make while trying to resolve conflict can make the problem worse, warns Aish.com. Telling a coworker, "You're always late" is a generalized statement that can hurt feelings further. Instead, use evidence and realistic statements to support your argument, like "You were late on April 4th and 13th."
Brainstorm Solutions
Through conflict resolution, you and the other party are working toward the same goal. If you pit yourself against each other, no solution will ever be found. Instead, work as a team to brainstorm ideas that can satisfy everyone involved, suggests business website MindTools.com. Brainstorming ideas together might help you think of solutions that you never considered before, that could be a good solution for your conflict.
Negotiate
Make concessions and compromises to help negotiate the best solution for everyone involved. If a solution that you brainstormed at first doesn't seem immediately acceptable, work with it until everyone can accept the terms. For instance, if one of your children is causing problems by never coming home for curfew on time, try a trust-based curfew system instead. You may find that the conflict has arisen from original terms that just didn't work.
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