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Strategies for Conflict Resolution

Ujwal Deshmukh
Conflicts are a part of everyday life. Many people find resolving conflicts a difficult job, as it is a tricky thing to deal with. In this article, we will talk about some simple conflict resolution strategies, which will be useful in resolving ongoing conflicts, or even help in preventing potential conflicts in the future.
We often face conflicts in our personal as well as professional lives. But many times we think, why address a conflict and create one more or make matters more complicated? It is better to keep quiet and just see whatever is going on and go along with the flow of things!
However, this strategy may not work for a long period. A time will come in life where we will find it difficult to bear the conflicts, and this would result in frustration and stress. Moreover, it could also spoil one's health and career growth options.
Therefore, instead of getting frustrated and ruining precious life moments, it is much better to find a solution to whatever the problem may be. This will not only help in resolving the conflict, but will also help in avoiding such conflicts in the future.

Strategies for Conflict Resolution

Stay Calm

Even before getting to the root cause of the problem and trying to resolve it, one important thing to remember is to remain calm. It goes without saying that there will be negativity if there is a conflict. But this can also be taken as an opportunity to resolve differences and strengthen relationships in the long run.
How many times have we ourselves seen others, who have had a conflict, solve it and then become good buddies. It might not happen all the time, but the best thing to do at the start is to be calm. Being aggressive or doing something in anger will only worsen the situation even further.

Speak Up

This happens with most people, they isolate themselves from their friends, relatives and family, when they are going through a bad phase or are facing any type of conflicts in their life. However, such a strategy does not work. This is because, the more you keep quiet, the bigger the conflict gets. It is therefore advisable to speak your mind.
Speak about your conflicts to your friends, relatives, or whoever else is close to you. Get an expert advice from the elder members of your family. This would help you to resolve the conflict. Apart from speaking with your friends and relatives, keep your ego aside, gather enough courage and speak directly with the person concerned.
Discuss the reasons, make a compromise, and reach a mutual settlement, where both of you are happy and contended with whatever is decided. You won't believe, but this is the best strategy to resolve a conflict.

Listen

Speaking gives you the liberty to express your thoughts. But when it comes to conflict resolution, speaking proves to be effective only after listening to something. So if you wish to come up with a good solution to resolve a conflict, develop your listening skills.
Listening doesn't mean just hearing the problem and leaving it at that. But here, it means to actually listen and understand the problem, and develop a solution in your mind simultaneously. Listening not only helps in developing a solution, but also makes you understand the point of view of the person in front of you.
If you listen to others, they will also listen to you, so that you can express your thoughts. A mutual understanding of the feelings and expectations of both the parties would thus resolve the conflict and strengthen the bond as well.

Be Assertive

Assertiveness plays an important role when it comes to conflict management. Assertiveness is a combination of several different qualities. While being assertive you need to be patient, a good listener, confident, and have a positive approach towards life. Such a communication process resolves most of the conflicts, and is beneficial to both the parties.
Avoid using words such as 'I do' or 'I don't do'. Instead, use words like 'I feel' or 'I believe'. Remember the principle, 'I'm OK, You're OK', while being bold to resolve a conflict. It should be a 'win-win' situation for all. Do not be biased, think from all the possible perspectives, and verify the facts.

Forget It

Time is said to be the best medicine to cure the wounds caused to your mind and heart. If you have tried everything that was possible from your side, and all your negotiation skills and conflict resolution strategies have failed to resolve the conflict, then it is advisable to maintain a distance from that person for some time.
Let time heal your wounds, and once that is done, forget everything, meet up once again and speak. But if you think that the conflict would never get resolved, then cut ties forever. It is better to cut ties than bear the conflict for an eternity.
Conflicts can occur not only between individuals but in groups too. Also, you never know, from a conflict, you may learn something new or useful from the other person's point of view. So keep all these things in mind. Use these conflict resolution strategies and you will definitely come up with an effective solution.
Life is too short to spend time on petty issues like disputes and conflicts. So see that you avoid conflicts in the future and sort out your differences with anyone, amicably. But yes, also remember to 'think' before you speak, or your words might lead to another conflict. If you have a conflict, get it resolved, instead of stewing over it forever!