Conflict is an inevitable, and sometimes necessary, part of relationships. Whether at home or at work, knowing how to properly handle conflict can help you diffuse it quickly and to the benefit of everyone involved. Understand that conflict isn't always about who wins and who loses, but it focuses more on direct and honest communication to effectively make the relationship more functional. Know the steps to handling conflict so that you can take the reins the next time a conflict erupts in one of your relationships.
Recognize the Conflict
Watch for sources of conflict so you can quickly recognize and put a stop to it, says Entrepreneur.com. Allowing conflict to fester can only make feelings stronger, resulting in an eventual burst of emotions that may not allow for adult conversation and mature conflict resolution. Recognize the signs of a conflict so that you immediately contact all parties involved to talk about the problem and brainstorm ways to make it work.
Schedule a Time
Discussing a problem when it occurs is ineffective because emotions are running high and anger can be rampant. Give everyone time to calm down by breaking the conflict and scheduling a time to meet about the problem. This sends the message that you take the conflict seriously, and want to talk about it at a neutral time and place. Ask that everyone involved find evidence and make plans about what will be discussed in the meeting.
Make a Plan
Never sit down to handle a conflict without a plan of how the meeting will go. Whether discussing marital problems with your wife or a possible merger at work, make a general schedule of how the meeting will go and items of conflict that you will need to discuss. This can help reduce hurt feelings and anger throughout the discussion because everyone has the floor and you are in control of the situation.
Take Turns
Avoid monopolizing the conversation by telling everyone what needs to happen. Instead, approach the conflict without a sure solution and make your decisions following the meeting. Give each person a turn to talk, and listen without rebuttal, says The Boston Globe. It's human nature to try to defend yourself when being attacked, but remember that discussing the conflict coaxes all of the information out so you can make an educated decision.
Brainstorm and Select
As a partnership or group, you can brainstorm conflict resolution ideas with the right information available, says the University of California. Writing them down so you can clearly see what your options are can be helpful. Look over all of the possible options, and choose the one that benefits the most individuals possible. While not everyone may be happy with the outcome, they won't be able to deny that you took the time to handle the conflict properly.
Member Comments