Whether it’s between couples, family members, colleagues or neighbors, conflicts are inevitable no matter how careful you are in committing mistakes. Each individual is different and these differences can lead to misunderstandings, arguments or a full-blown fight.
When tensions rise between two persons, it can really be stressful and can ruin not just your relationships but even your job and your dignity as well. To avoid reaching to that point, it is very important to resolve the conflict early and successfully. It’s not easy though. Not all of us know how to deal with conflicts properly.
To help you with that, here are 3 simple strategies for a healthy and successful conflict resolution.
1. Cool off.
Take a step back, inhale, exhale and build an emotional distance first before trying to resolve the issue. Deep breathing is a great way to regain your focus and react positively. Remember, conflicts cannot be resolved when both parties are boiling up.
When you are calm, you gain an open mind to see and understand that each person is different, hence the argument. You will also be able to assess your role in the problem and take responsibility instead of blaming the other party. Take a moment to prepare yourself for what’s coming and to choose the most effective words and phrases to use when trying to settle the conflict.
2. Listen to understand.
Now comes the crucial part. When trying to resolve the conflict, it’s very easy to misinterpret what the other one is saying and taking it negatively or as an attack. Listen to understand and not to use it as a way to throw something at the person. This is not a debate or a contest. You are a mature person who is trying to resolve a problem successfully. Be patient, listen to what the person is saying and not saying – which means the persons feelings and body language.
3. Speak with a purpose to resolve the issue.
Refrain from blaming the person/s you are in conflict with. You are here to solve the problem and not to figure out whose fault it is. Don’t speak for the other person or speculate about their motives. Also, always resist the urge to interrupt the other person while he or she is talking. Listen to understand, you’ll have your own time to speak too.
At the end of the day, who wants to be in bad terms with anyone, right? We all want peace of mind. That’s why it is for the best that you resolve the conflict and end it with affirmation and forgiveness.
