Conflict Management Answers

Personal attitudes play a role in conflict resolution and include prejudices, biases, prior experience, and the level of importance of a topic to the parties involved. It is important to note that you can control your own attitude, but you cannot control the attitudes of others; it is necessary to focus on your attitudes and assumptions before you address the other party's. Next, you need to know what the nature of the conflict is, or what the conflict is about. It is necessary to know how severe the conflict is, how easily it can be resolved, how much sacrifice it will take to overcome, and how heated it is likely to get. Lastly, one needs to understand the capabilities of the people involved. Is everyone on the same level and do they have what they need to work on the conflict, i.e. money, time, and support?

When a problem arises I can try to use the steps in conflict resolution: define the problem, propose a solution, listen carefully to the other person, agree on shared values, and brainstorm together. We may need to compromise, use arbitration as a solution or a mediator, or agree to disagree.

The first factor is one's needs; when those things essential to personal well-being are being denied or taken away, conflict is likely to follow. Another factor is one's perceptions, such as when there is more than one way of looking at a situation. Power is another factor, which includes taking advantage of others or taking power away from others. Values can contribute to conflict when beliefs and principles are at odds. Finally, feelings or emotions can lead to conflict when emotions are ignored or if they differ.

Responses will very. A sample response follows: "I feel like we are not communicating as well as we could," or, "I hope we can both start communicating our thoughts better," are possible answers.

Neutral arguments avoid using "you" statements and, therefore, can assist in avoiding being perceived as offensive or indicating that you believe your opponent is unreasonable. It is best to use "I" statements rather than "you" statements, because it helps keep the tone of statements neutral, which avoids escalating the conflict.

Conflict resolution is influenced by people’s values, attitudes, perceptions, emotions, and the importance of the issue. Communication, active listening, respect, and willingness to cooperate or compromise also affect whether a resolution can be reached.

When a problem arises with friends or family, I can stay calm, listen to their perspective, and explain my feelings and needs without blaming them. We can identify the main issue, consider possible solutions together, and agree on a fair compromise.

I’m not sure what’s going on; could you explain it to me?

Conflict can result from differences in values, needs, interests, or perceptions. Poor communication, misunderstandings, competition for resources, and the unfair use of power can also lead to conflict.

Using neutral arguments focuses the conversation on the problem rather than blaming someone. This can reduce defensiveness, encourage open communication, and make it easier to find a fair solution.