How to Handle Conflict

In today’s organizations conflict and power are important elements to the success of any company but can also create negative long term impacts if not addressed. Organizations require enough power within the leaders to get through conflict and enough conflict within individuals to create new innovations. Not all conflict is bad but when there is conflict individuals with power must assist in aligning conflict resolution to assist in understanding for everyone involved in the conflict. The need for successful conflict resolution is vital for employees so that they are capable of moving on and understanding why the conflict was overcome.

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.

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)

Conflict results from real or perceived opposition to one’s values, actions, desires or general interests. Conflicts may occur internally or externally between individuals or groups; conflict within a team environment can cause frustration, and occasionally anger. However, conflict resolution can also often generate positive results for the team. Conflict management skills remain in demand; conflict may be managed successfully by reaching an agreement that satisfies the needs of both the individual(s) and the team as a whole

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

Although all of the approaches have their time and place, you need to ask yourself the basic question, "Is my preferred conflict handling style the very best I can use to resolve this conflict or solve this problem?"

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).

Often, when the conflict happens, it is more volatile and more debilitating to the organization than it was initially. An open conflict or interpersonal disagreement festers just below the surface in the work environment. It comes up to the surface whenever enabled, and always at the worst possible instant.

After hearing from all parties involved in the conflict, participants are sometimes able to come up with a resolution for the problem they are facing

Conflict resolution is necessary to keep focus and sustain the positive process. Collection of all the facts should be done prior to attempted resolution. Communication to the parties in a private setting to get their perspective is the idea. Only give opinions afterwards. Unless all is understood one cannot move onto mediation. After making the decision, be resolute in the delivery. (Lewicki, Saunders, & Barry, 2015)

Organizations of all types need good managers in order to survive when dealing with conflicts that will occur within a workplace. Many people holding management positions will be confronted with issues between two people or two groups

Once the team is ready to resolve the situational conflict, the next stage is to understand the situation and each team member's point of view. Additionally, each leader and team member should take the time to make sure that everyone’s position is heard and understood. In the meantime, strong emotions are at work here, so everyone should bond through the emotion and reveal the true nature of the conflict such as clarifying positions.

Conflict Resolution was created by Jeff Muir. The main idea revolves around the idea that conflict occurs when one needs something from another and is not receiving that need. The resolution of conflicts grows out of that idea, and involves three basic steps. The first step circles around clearly expressing the need. The next step is figuring out if that need can be met, or if it cannot. Step three is negotiation to see if the need can be met a different way, or management of conflict. If the need can be met, then conflict resolution has been reached, and there is no need for step three. If not, then the third step is needed. The third step can go one of two ways; negotiation or conflict management. Negotiation is the prefered way because the need is acknowledged and a different path is found. Conflict management is worse because it involves avoidance or aggressive behaviors like the silent treatment or harmful gossip.

The text book describes conflict as “a process that begins when one party perceives another party has or is about to negatively affect something the first party cares about.” There are different views on dealing with conflict. There is the traditional view that seeks to eliminate any conflict and the interaction group that seek to use conflict as a stepping stone to greater things. Conflict can arise in any situation and, following the managed conflict view, it is not necessarily something to be push under the table but something to

In this writing, we will explore and explain strategies of conflict resolution and, encourage teams, individuals and society as a whole to use some of these ideas for their own resolution purposes. “In many cases, effective conflict resolution skills can make the difference between positive and negative outcomes.” (Conflict resolution, 2008). With this in mind, individuals will have hope for a more positive team experience.