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Conflict
is the result of clashes between incompatible
attitudes, principles or goals. Its impact can be
positive or negative. The cause of the conflict
can be anything that makes some activity. Parties
can have conflict about the goal of the activity, about
means necessary to achieve specific goal, about values and
morale of the goal, about facts and conclusion, or
even a style of reaching the goal.
Why
does conflicts appears? Conflict can appear because many
reasons and motivation. It is in the human nature to
observe, conclude and create attitudes. But we all do
observation of our surrounding, making conclusion and
building attitudes in different way. Once people with different
attitudes meet, they may have different view to some
situation. Everybody is having his/her own opinion about
resolution of some problem. In that situation conflicts
appear as normal reaction to different attitudes. It is
natural reaction to different views and perspectives.
| Conflict
can have positive and negative side. The positive
side of the conflict can be better ideas produced.
It can turn people to other approaches. Tension is
stimulating interest and creativity. People in
conflict can test and develop their capabilities.
On the other side the conflict can have negative
impact too. Some people do not like conflict since
it makes them upset or defeated. Conflict can
increase distance between people. People can
defend their stands, since they do not like to
admit that other idea can be better. People can
have biased attitude, according their own
interests. It can bring distance instead of team
development. |
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When
you point a finger to someone, be aware that
you are pointing 3 fingers to yourself. |
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It
is the truth that the conflict will occur in any group
of the people. Even a discussion between close friends
about hobby or meal that they all like can be a cause for
small conflict. Anyway, conflicts can be managed.
Conflicts can build relationships. Conflict can
also be a motivator for a change.
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to conflict should be effort that will utilize positive impact of the conflict, diminish negative
effects and bring the resolution of the conflict
with the benefit to all parties. Since everyone
can participate in the conflict, everybody can also give
contribution to the management and resolution of
the conflict.
First
step of conflict management and resolution is the acceptance of
the fact that conflict exists and that there are
more or less different attitudes of involved
parties. Acknowledgment of conflict existence can
help us to analyze and understand the cause of the
problem. It is very important to separate problem
from the person, since personalizing
of the problem can
increase resistance and opposition between
parties. Management of emotions is critical part,
since when emotions are shown strongly, people
tend to personalize problem and to accuse each
other. Everybody might want to say his/her
opinion, hence active listening can contribute to
conflict resolution. |
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Tools to
overcome conflict
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When
you find yourself in the conflict, try to open effective
discussion that will clarify current situation. Try to
be open to other's opinions. Develop ideas, your own and
the other's. Stay focused on reaching resolution,
instead having endless arguing. Use positive ideas and
transfer them into actions. Do not forget to close
discussion and to summaries what has been agreed, in
order to help to Conflict Management and Resolution.
Remember:
Anyone can become angry
that is easy. But to be angry with the right person,
to the right degree, at the right time, for the right
purpose, and in the right way this is not easy. Aristotle,
The Nicomachean Ethics.
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