Being in conflict can be a real pain in the neck; to deal with someone else who has different views from yourself can be daunting if dealt with narrow-mindedly. It can happen anywhere where we find ourselves interacting with other people – may it be the workplace, in school, at home and in other places. It can even be an internal conflict starting within oneself. Hence, it is a natural occurrence that is inevitable; it is a part of our experience demonstrating that we all have our respective ideas. By handling conflicts responsibly, we get to learn more ourselves and the people concerned. It is an opportunity to get to understand a different individual’s perspective which could eventually lead to more strengthened relationships. It might be cumbersome to ones who are stubborn in their points of view; but there are ways on how to resolve conflict efficiently. At the end of the day, it can help you understand the problem and get to think of creative ways to find a solution.
There are several kinds of conflict management styles discussed in this separate article. Examining these styles may come in handy if you find yourself in conflict with someone else. Deciding which would be the most appropriate strategy to use can mean the difference between resolving the conflict or making matters even worse. Aside from the styles mentioned, several skills and a proper mindset can help you in responsibly handling the situation. Let’s take conflict in the workplace as an example for the purpose of this discussion, since conflicts are quite common in this scenario. For instance, if you find two of your co-workers in a conflict situation that won’t seem to come to an end soon, what do you think should be done for a resolution to come into light? One approach would be by stepping in and act as a mediator. Mediation involves a neutral third-party coming into the scene; assisting the arguing parties to put an end to their conflict. The mediator will help the conflicting parties in thinking of ways to assure that both of their interests will be met when arriving at a resolution. The styles used in this approach will be dependent on what the situation demands. [1] In addition, another vital factor for conflict resolution is communication. It is important if you want to clear out present issues by fostering an environment of openness among people. The ability to listen while also sharing your views would help in resolving conflict.
In resolving conflict, coming up with a resolution that would make all the parties involved happy is important. However, learning how to resolve conflict isn’t easy as it is a responsibility in itself. More practice or exposure to such situations can help you develop better conflict handling skills.
- “Mediation”. Conflict Research Consortium, University of Colorado. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
