7 Steps for Managing Conflict

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  1. Conflict is natural. Don’t ignore it!
    You need to acknowledge, accept,
    and deal with it.
  2. Define the Conflict. You can’t
    solve the problem if you don’t know
    what it is! What are the real issues? They
    may be different from the presenting
    one. People keep grudges and you
    need to know any past events that may
    have caused the current conflict.
  3. Find a Private Space for an honest,
    constructive conversation. No one
    wants to be embarrassed. Also, conflict
    breeds people taking sides.
  4. Listen. Allow everyone to share
    their thoughts without being interrupted.
    Encourage individuals to articulate their
    points honestly. Do not interject or
    react. If you fear that you will forget
    your thought, write down a trigger word.
    Take notes and let people see
    your notes.
  5. Investigate Independently. After
    speaking with those involved, take time
    to do some investigative work on your
    own. Look for and consider the
    evidence on both sides.
  6. Discuss Strategies for moving
    forward and reaching common ground.
    Brainstorm and agree on ideas as a
    group. Discuss ways that you can avoid
    similar conflicts going forward. There
    can be more than one way to resolve
    the conflict. Explore the options.
  7. Evaluate. Keep an eye on the
    situation and evaluate if the solution in
    place has remained effective. Revisit
    the conflict and make changes
    as needed.

Written By

drmimi

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