1.4 Myths about conflict
Myth No 1: Conflict can never lead to anything positive
While confrontation is a risk, it is often a learning experience for those involved.
Myth No 2: Conflicts are the result of clashing personalities
Personalities do not conflict, behaviours do! Different people can work together for years without having conflict - until their behaviour conflicts. Differentiating personality from behaviour makes conflict manageable because if conflict is based on personalities, we can do little else but bear it.
Myth No 3: Conflict and anger go together
Conflict with people does not mean that there is anger involved. There are whole ranges of emotions that surface in conflict situations.
1.5 Defining conflict levels
Conflict
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This is the easiest kind of conflict to resolve. To resolve this conflict leaders simply ensure that both parties have the same information.
Level 2: Processes or Methods This level occurs when there is a difference of opinion over how things should be done. Because the issue here is “how do we get there?” rather than “where should we go?” compromise is usually a realistic option.
Level 3: Goals or Purpose On this level parties cannot agree on a common goal. Negotiations at this level take patience and skill. Often youth leaders withdraw from this kind of conflict because they are not of the temperament to work through the hard issues and avoid the uncomfortable dialogues that accompany the resolution of conflict at this level.
Level 4: Values The deepest and most serious conflict relates to values – the parties disagree about basic meanings. Any resolution at this level is almost impossible. Defining the level of conflict can lead to the selection of appropriate responses to conflict resolution. But often what leaders think is the level is just a screen for a deeper level of conflict. One situation may include several different levels of
Compromise, without a doubt, plays one of the most important roles in moving a society forward. It allows people to put conflicts behind them and to focus on the future and what it offers them. As seen many times throughout history, problems and disputes can create barriers that prevent growth and development of society. However, when people work together and make negotiations, they are able to move onto more important things, rather than dwell on the past.
Whether we like it or not, conflict is a part of everyday lives. It can happen to anyone, from your friends to your family.
Stalemate can be the most intense stage and arises out of a conflict escalating. During the stalemate stage, the conflict has spiraled out of control to a point where neither side is in a position to back down; by this point, participants are not willing to back down from their stances, and each side insists that its beliefs are ultimately right. Even in a situation where a member of one side feels that there may be merit in the other side’s stance, there is an unwillingness to admit it because of a need to protect interests and save face.
The second form of conflict management is Compromising. This form brings along the idea that losing something is adequate when an individual gains a little. Both sides come to the middle to help serve the team and project on hand while making it possible for each person to maintain a portion of his or her original idea. The drawbacks of using this method are values and objectives can be lost in the process if they are compromised. Some of the demands from the other side may be too severe to come to a middle ground on. This method can also create other conflict if no respect for the compromise or the other team members exists. When this method is used to its full potential people of equal roles are equally committed to the team. “When the issue is to complex to just abandon the others ideas or perspectives and when the specific task that is being dealt with is only moderately important.” (Improving group, organizational or team dynamics when conflict occurs, 2008)
A meeting with all involved parties to discuss the issue is also another good way to resolve conflict. Everyone will have a chance to speak; this is a good opportunity to hear all sides of the story and gain a full understanding of the conflict.
This demonstrates the parties’ willingness to come to a solution that would satisfy their own needs. Another theme that was evident was empowerment. This is seen with the parties actively participating in the dispute, and being allowed to control the outcome.
When examining these issues, it’s possible to determine which conflict that is being dealt with by looking at the cues that are provided. These cues include end goals related to the conflict, flexibility, and the interests of the parties involved within the conflict. Realistic conflict involves issues that can solved when party are willing to work towards a common goal, and nonrealistic conflict occurs when they are trying to win. Nonrealistic conflicts will consist of less flexible parties, and are best handled with fore or coercion to reach an end goal. This will stop the conflict from escalation or being all together avoided by the members involved. Conflicts that are readily identified can be controlled, and the best solutions can be
Level II conflict occurs when members cannot agree on how a project or problem is tackled. To offset any problems, team members should have a clear idea of how they are going to proceed as they work toward a common goal.
Negotiation is a fundamental form of dispute resolution involving two or more parties (Michelle, M.2003). Negotiations can also take place in order to avoid any future disputes. It can be either an interpersonal or inter-group process. Negotiations can occur at international or corporate level and also at a personal level. Negotiations often involve give and take acknowledging that there is interdependence between the disputants to some extent to achieve the goal. This means that negotiations only arise when the goals cannot be achieved independently (Lewicki and Saunders et al., 1997). Interdependence means the both parties can influence the outcome for the other party and vice versa. The negotiations can be win-lose or win-win in nature.
In the face of conflict one must look for objective criteria with which to resolve conflict is essential. Always keep in mind the aspiration for long term relationship building. We never know when we would meet our counterpart, another representative of his or her organization or a common acquaintance
What is conflict? Even something as basic as a universal definition for the word conflict seems to vary from source to source. A literature review focusing on conflict defined it as “the interaction of interdependent people who perceive incompatibility and the possibility of interference from others as a result of this incompatibility” (Brinkert 2010). Often times the disagreement results not from a concrete difference, but rather a difference in perception (Ellis & Abbott 2012). One of the most important factors effecting conflict management is the resolution style used. The most often used tool for classifying how conflict is managed is the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (Iglesias & Vallejo 2012).
A leader has a role that can impact others to be more operative in functioning to attain a common goal and maintain effective working relationships amongst group members (Johnson & Johnson 2012). This makes leaders in groups considerably important in shaping individuals (Johnson & Johnson 2012). However, conflict arises in groups and becomes difficult to manage when a leader and the followers lack the skills to manage conflict as a team (Johnson & Johnson 2012). Leadership and conflict resolution skills must exists between leaders and followers in order to manage conflict (Johnson & Johnson 2012). Also, it is possible for followers to teach leaders how to lead and resolve problems since followers can play an active role in building relationships amongst group members (Howell & Shamir cited in Johnson & Johnson 2012). Since followers and leaders both have significant roles in accomplishing the group goals, they both have a role to manage conflict effectively as a group (Johnson & Johnson 2012). This essay will discuss how leaders have an important role in managing conflict and likewise with followers having important roles in managing conflict. Conflicts, the various types of conflicts that happen in groups and the reasons behind the conflicts will be mentioned followed by approaches that can be taken to help manage struggles within groups. The methods can be used by leaders and followers in order to manage
In resolving conflict, ask the question, “How do we keep this from happening again?” The first thing is to be objective. This helps in managing conflict by keeping team members focused on the problem at hand (Huber, 2007)
If you deem confrontation is necessary, however, confront the parties separately. Confront them in a neutral setting for a down-to-earth chat. If the conflict is in its early stages, resolution might be easily—and quickly—achieved now.
Conflict or disagreement over the range of issues has become inherent aspect of modern organisational life. People from different cultural and education background work in an organisation. People working in an organisation may possess different goal and interest. People working in organisation may tend to different over a range of issues including organisational politics, organisational procedure, personal preference or political preference. It is also argued that conflict is essential characteristics of organisational life. Role of manager is paramount with regard to negotiating the conflict that arises in organisational life (http://www.sagepub.com/). Often lack of