Three Conflict Resolution Strategies You Need to Know

Conflict ensues when two opposing parties have different goals, interests, or views, which appear incompatible with one another. Conflict frequently occurs at the height of a stressful situation when everything seems to bubble over.

Typically, it is not just connected to the one event that sparked the outward display of the conflict in the first place. For many women, we bottle our emotions and keep them inside until we fill up with the little bits and pieces that trigger the quarrel.

Resolution can only occur when we can work together to figure out what triggered the conflict in the first place. To resolve the dilemma, we must both agree on the root of the problem.

There are tons of conflict resolution strategies, But unfortunately, no one method will work for every situation. The best thing to do is choose a few and try them out to see how they work in your particular circumstances.

Some of these strategies may seem silly at first, but that is okay. The funny feelings will pass, and you will be amazed at how successful they are in resolving disagreements.

To get the best effect from conflict resolution strategies, everyone should first agree to observe a few ground rules:

* Avoid Universal Statements. Every, all, never, and always are big no-nos in conflict resolution. Can you honestly say something always happens? No! So please do not say so.

* No Personal Attacks. Try using "I" assertions instead of "you" assertions. Make sure you let the person see you feel. For example, "When you throw your clothes on the floor, it makes me feel like I am a maid picking up after you."

* Listen. When one person communicates, the other person must listen with an open heart. Instead of planning your rebuttal while the other person is talking, be sure to listen to what they are expressing and recognize their feelings.

* Find a Moderator when Needed. If you are still experiencing issues, ask a friend or important person close to both of you to come over and moderate. They can keep you on track. Nothing hinders conflict resolution more than constantly getting sidelined with petty details.

Once the ground rules are in place, consider these three conflict resolution strategies:

1. Role-playing. Create a mock setting, such as a flower shop or a restaurant. The first person is the one taking the order and listening while the customer explains the situation. The person taking the order must listen and then repeat back the order to make sure they understand.

* After the two parties have gone through the entire exercise, the roles are reversed. There are no comebacks to the previous arguments stated; only another order is placed and taken.

2. Knee to knee. I wouldn't recommend this with a coworker in an office setting since it's a bit of a personal space issue, but sitting knee to knee is an excellent strategy used in conflict resolution.

* Put two chairs close together. Have a seat, and start discussing the issue. Knee to knee makes you pay attention to each other, which is one of the most significant resolution rules.

* Bear in mind, the most recent events may or may not be the actual issue, so dig a little deeper.

3. Cooldown. Occasionally just moving out of the situation lets both people cool down. One of the biggest challenges with conflicts is that they feel attacked instead of focusing on the situation or problem

* After taking time to cool down, both parties can come back together and attack the situation rather than each other.

* Assign a suitable length of time to cool down. Do not just walk away for an undetermined amount of time. Set a timer for 30 minutes, do something else, then come back and begin resolving the issue at hand. Do not forget to listen. Find a moderator when needed.

These three methods are great strategies for conflict resolution. If one technique does not work, check out something else. Once you have worked through a few issues, you will begin to develop your likes and dislikes for particular strategies and find out which ones suit your style.