Fights are inevitable in any relationship, whether personal or business-related. No two people always agree on everything. But for many people, small disagreements can quickly unravel into large sources of conflict. In some relationships, conflict in one area of life may spill over into other areas, causing increased tension and unhappiness among all parties involved. Fortunately, there are ways to manage conflict in an effort to reach resolution and move past the disagreement.
Step 1
Stay calm and relaxed. Physical, external tension will rub off on anyone you are interacting with. Keeping a calm tone of voice and a calm approach will make it harder for a fight to escalate out of a conversation. Keeping calm is also an effective defense against individuals who might be angry and trying to provoke you into making a bad judgment or decision that they can use against you. At the very least, it will keep you from lashing out in ways you might regret.
Step 2
Be agreeable. Conflict usually arises out of a disagreement, but there are often other areas of discussion where you can agree with your opposition. Focus on the ways in which you are similar and on ways in which you can agree. This also helps to validate the other person's feelings and makes him feel like you are hearing what he says. When a person feels acknowledged in an argument, she is more likely to work better with others, making it easier to address the points on which you differ.
Step 3
Admit to any moments of wrongdoing if you have made improper actions or comments, or if you have been wrong at any point in a discussion. Admitting the mistakes you have made is a sign of maturity and shows you are willing to acknowledge your moments of imperfection. It also helps settle areas of dispute, particularly if the other person is hung up on your actions or words from previous exchanges.
Step 4
State your existing problems clearly. Explain your reasoning for disagreeing and what you would like to see resolved in any resolution to the dispute.
Step 5
Reach a settlement through compromise, if necessary. It isn't always possible to get everything you want from every situation, but a nice compromise will put your conflict behind you and allow all parties to move forward.
Tips and Warnings
- Use language that avoids attacking and promotes discussing all parties as a collective group. Even if you think one specific person is responsible for the dispute, attacking her as such will only isolate her and make resolution harder to achieve.
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