People from different backgrounds and grow up in different cultures. When they meet, for example, in the workplace, conflicts might arise. This is because they have different beliefs and ways of doing things. Therefore, conflict resolution is an effective way to build a meaningful relationship and pursue a collective goal.
Here are time-tested tips for conflict resolution.
Stay Calm
During conflicts, your emotions are typically uncontrollable, so you might end up saying or doing things that you will regret later. Therefore, you should try your best to stay calm by doing breathing exercises, moving to a quiet place, or drinking some water. Strive not to say or do something that will make the situation worse than it is already.
Try to Understand the Other Person
It is normal to feel misunderstood when you conflict with someone. However, you should try to understand the other person first, and everything might make sense after that. Instead of aiming to be right or win an argument, take a step back and try to understand why they act or think the way they do. Therefore, you should genuinely listen to their claims and ask questions for clarification.
Take Responsibility
If someone tells you that your actions hurt them, don’t try to explain why you think they didn’t. Instead, apologize for what you did and seek to understand why they felt hurt. Take responsibility even if you didn’t do it intentionally and explain later. This could save you a lot of disagreements and subsequent issues.
Agree to Disagree
If both of you have strong beliefs about a particular topic, you might not change the other party’s mind no matter how well you present your cases or ideas. Thus, you will have to agree to disagree at some point. Always be willing to accept that it is right to have different opinions on a particular subject. Don’t resent them or introduce the same argument another time. It is best to let it go unless it is very important to both of you.
Know When to Walk Away
It is not respectful to walk out after a conflict, but at times it might be the best decision. Therefore, you should know when to do it. For instance, if the other party attacks you personally or disrespects you, it might be a good idea to get out of the situation rather than fight back.
In most cases, you will feel the pressure to do something but you might regret your actions much later. Therefore, don’t act in such a situation; instead, tell the other person you need some time to calm down.
Seek the Help of a Third Party
If you conflict on a sensitive issue, such as property division, parenting, or business deals, you need a third party to help you. It is best to seek reliable judicial arbitration mediation services to ensure you resolve the issues amicably. Lawyers are knowledgeable and experienced in conflict resolution, and so they can help the conflicting parties agree.
Conflicts are likely to happen in different settings. Therefore, it is vital to learn about conflict resolution and the steps you should take to avoid disputes. The tips in this guide can help you prevent or quickly resolve conflicts.
