5 Ways to Deal With Conflict

1. Try to Avoid Conflict

One of the ways you can deal with conflict is by avoiding it altogether. Temporary avoidance allows you to take time to collect your thoughts before addressing the conflict. If the conflict is volatile, practicing temporary avoidance to allow the situation to calm down and to regain composure can be beneficial. Ignoring conflict because you don't like it or because you know you can't win is not helpful in the long run, because it does not resolve anything. Using the avoidance system is a lose-lose situation for all parties involved, because relationships are usually harmed or even sacrificed.

2. Use Accommodation in Certain Situations

Dealing with conflict through accommodation involves giving in to the other party simply to keep the peace. People often choose accommodation to create harmony and goodwill, or to make an obligation for a future tradeoff with the other party. When the stakes are low, accommodation may be a good choice. Accommodation is typically a lose-win situation, because one party gets its desires while the other party doesn't.

3. Compromise During a Disagreement

People may choose compromise to avoid fighting and maintain the status quo in a relationship. Compromising means each side gives up some aspect of its position to come up with a happy medium. You won't get everything you want, but you will win something when the conflict is resolved. You need time to discuss the terms of the compromise before the conflict can be settled. To facilitate compromise in complicated and highly emotional situations, ask an unbiased third party to mediate the process. Compromise is often a win-lose/lose-win situation, because neither party gets everything it wants.

4. Competition as an Alternative

Competition is a win-or-lose method of dealing with conflict. Competition is used to demonstrate power over the other party and may involve the use of personal attacks to win. Competition is almost always unproductive in managing conflict.

5. Collaboration Is Often the Optimum Choice

Collaboration involves all parties in the conflict listening to each other and working together to come up with a mutually acceptable solution to the conflict. To facilitate collaboration, schedule time to meet with the involved parties and allow time for each person to communicate his side without interruption. Then, brainstorm potential solutions. As a team, decide which solution is best for everyone. When you use collaboration, you create a win-win situation for all parties. Collaboration should be your primary method for dealing with conflict resolution.