Conflict is likely to arise anytime people get together. This is often due to people having different cultural backgrounds, opinions, and personalities. It’s also part of human nature to try to find ways to reach a resolution, especially when it affects their jobs, the places they live, or their families. At conflict-resolution-training.com you can discover the main reasons conflict arises. These are misunderstandings due to poor communication skills, stereotypes, biases, differing opinions, and a perception of unfairness in a given situation. To solve these problems, here are the five pillars you can rely on.
Avoidance
There are situations in which it’s better to avoid the subject to keep the peace. These scenarios do not tend to be common in workplace situations but may arise in people’s daily lives such as when a stranger starts talking to you on a public bus or when someone nearby is playing loud music. Since it’s almost certain that you will not see that person again, avoidance of conflict is the best way to go.
Competition
Once again, this strategy may not be useful in workplace situations but works very well in scenarios in which achieving the goal is of greater importance than preserving the relationship. In a crisis situation, such as when people have been hurt in an accident and a crowd gathers around the victims, you will conclude that ensuring their safety is more important than ingratiating yourself with everyone there. Establish your leadership and do what needs to be done.
Accommodation
These are situations in which the best course of action is to acquiesce to the other’s needs. Here, the relationship is much more important than proving your point. This is a useful strategy when the other person insists on having their point win the argument and you do not have a strong opinion.
Compromise
Some instances of conflict call for compromise to reach an agreement. Although this might be interpreted as a “lose-lose” situation since nobody achieves their goal, you may end up saving the relationship with the other person. It may sound easy, but compromising is not always something people are willing to do. It calls for the ability to think in terms of the big picture and for leaving your pride on the side.
Collaboration
When collaboration is achieved, it is cause for celebration since this is the perfect example of a “win-win” situation. It reflects the ability of both parties to put aside their differences and work together to achieve a greater good.
Collaboration tends to be ideal for conflicts in the workplace because setting goals is important but maintaining the peace between the members of a team that must work together is important as well. As such, this conflict resolution method should be promoted in workplace environments.
