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What is Conflict Resolution?

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What is it? 

Conflict is inevitable in every workplace whether it be with a fellow co-worker, a supervisor, or even a client so tools for resolution are important. Conflict resolution is an informal or formal process that two or more parties use to find a peaceful solution while protecting the human rights of all parties. Negotiation, mediation, and diplomacy all use similar tactics to solve the same conflicts. Sometimes a supervisor or third party is needed to mediate, such as a human resources team if a resolution cannot be reached respectfully. 

Why Solve Conflict? 

  • Come to a beneficial agreement about a specific dispute or issue

  • Understand more about the values, beliefs, and backgrounds of your opponent 

  • Gain a new perspective from your opponents point of view

  • Grow your relationship with your opponent and gain new community allies 

  • Avoid wasting resources, time, energy, good reputation, etc. 

Goals

  • produce solutions everyone agrees to

  • work as quickly as possible to find the solution 

  • improve relationships between the groups in conflict, not hurt 

  • find new resources and become better at negotation 

First Steps to Resolution 

Resources

  1. Understand the conflict

  2. Communicate 

  3. Brainstorm possible resolutions

  4. Use a nonbiased mediator

  5. Explore alternatives

  6. Cope with stressful situations and pressure tactics

  7. Choose the best resolution 

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