Conflict resolution Free Essays

Healthy organizations which are characterized by well developed problem -solving mechanisms and a collaborative climate are able to identify conflict and deal with it in a elaborative way that leaves the organization stronger and better developed rather than weakened and wracked with hostility (Owens, Valleys, 2011). The potential conflict in this elementary school can be approached with five possible methods namely: muscle, reconciliation, harmony, retreat, and collaboration. The muscle method is assertive, aggressive, and competitive. We will write a custom essay sample on Conflict resolution or any similar topic only for you Order Now This style creates win-lose situation. This is termed as † I am the boss. Just do it! â€Å". The reconciliation method is one of accommodating, giving in and acquiescing to preserve relationships while resolving the conflict, at least immemorially. The harmony style assumes a â€Å"middle ground,† aimed at achieving compromise in order to resolve conflict. On the other hand, retreat method avoids or withdraws in from the conflict. It is aimed at not becoming involved with conflict and the strong feelings it may generate. The collaborating approach attempts to reach consensus and stresses working together for a mutual solution to conflicts. (Owens, valleys,201 1). In order to manage the conflict in this elementary school and the community in question, the collaborative method seems in my opinion the most attractive approach in order to lessen the destructive hostility among the staff and all parties t and to pave the way for opportunities of growth and development of the school and the community as a whole. The first step I will take as a new principal is to get to the source of the imminent conflict sweeping across the school environment. I will have a private meeting with the librarian, the physical education teacher, and each of the other parties involved to be able to get to the root of the conflict. With eye contacts, open heartiness and impartial attitude, I will listen actively and discuss the issues tit these individuals privately. After that, I will form a committee comprising of teachers, staff members, parents, community members, administrators, board of directors, and all stakeholders. I will have a meeting with the committee to discuss the issue at hand while the director Of schools and myself serve as facilitators. Each party will present its view of the problem while the other parties listen attentively without interruption. We as facilitators will ensure that each party states its case clearly and calmly without personally attacking the other parties. Secondly, I will ask each party to state two or three specific suggestions on how it thinks the conflict could be solved. An example might be,† I will like the administration to handle all field trip approvals†. Another clear suggestion might be, â€Å"I will like all teachers and staff to select a representative from their respective department to handle curriculum and standards issues†. It is of paramount importance for the facilitators to encourage and prompt each party to identify the root cause of the problem and then come up with specific ways that will resolve the issue Seafarer, 2007). Through the lens of impartiality, active listening skills and compassion, I will ensure that the suggestions presented are thoroughly discussed and agreed upon to make the necessary changes. At this point, all parties will be encouraged to engage each other in a reasonable and professional manner to come to an agreement on the suggestions made and are satisfied with the implementation Of the resolutions. For instance, the veteran librarian will be satisfied with the resolution that bus duties will be assigned to any teacher who volunteers for that opportunity. Parents will be satisfied with the opportunity to lead and provide interesting programs for parent -teacher association. Also they will be excited to be given the golden chance to be part of the decision making body of the school improvement ventures. The final step for the facilitators, especially me is to set up a date for the resolutions to be enacted and follow up on its progress. It is of cardinal importance for me to fearlessly look into the conflict in detail, if necessary. If new policies or procedures need to be put in place to avoid the same conflict arising in the true, will have that discussion with the staff and all parties involved. How to cite Conflict resolution, Papers Conflict Resolution Free Essays Introduction Everyone faces conflict in their lives on a daily basis. It is an accepted and expected part of life. Conflict is not a problem in itself – it is what we do with it that counts. We will write a custom essay sample on Conflict Resolution or any similar topic only for you Order Now You can’t avoid conflict in your life, at home, at work, and even at play. Wherever people interact, there is a potential for conflict. That is not bad news because good things can arise, and relationships can improve through conflict, provided conflict is managed with thought and attention. The bad news is that most of us are fairly limited in how we manage and resolve conflict situations, often throwing gasoline on the fire. It doesn’t have to be that way. Objectives At the end of the report, the graduate students will be able to: 1. Define Conflict and Conflict Resolution. 2. Name the 4 basic categories of Conflict Resolution. 3. Give at least 3 out of 11 strategies of conflict resolution. Conflict among Nurses Nursing is a profession that is based on collaborative relationship with clients and colleagues but, when two or more people view issues from different perspectives, these relationships can be compromised by conflict. Although, the majority belief about conflict is as being negative issue. However, the experience of dealing with conflict can lead to positive outcomes for nurses, their colleagues, and clients. If conflict is not managed effectively, it can hinder a nurse`s ability to provide quality client care and escalate into violence and abuse. Because of this, nurses need to be aware of the ways in which conflict can escalate and be prepared to prevent or manage it in the workplace. Because nurses have interpersonal relationship with people having a variety of different values, beliefs, backgrounds, and goals, conflict is an expected outcome. The primary concern whenever there is conflict among nurses is the negative effects it will create on the quality of service given to the clients. A conflict that remains unresolved can have a far-reaching effect that ultimately influences every aspect of client care. Conflict that is managed effectively by nurses can lead to personal and organizational growth, but if not managed effectively, it can hinder a nurse’s ability to provide quality client care, and escalate into violence and abuse. Because of this, nurses need to be aware of the ways in which conflict can escalate and be prepared to prevent or manage it in the workplace. Nurses who effectively deal with conflict demonstrate respect for their clients, colleagues, and the profession. Causes of Conflict The cause of workplace conflict is often misunderstood and blamed on personalities and misbehavior, but in reality much workplace conflict is systemic and endemic to the workplace environment. Ineffective organizational systems, unpredictable policies, incompatible goals, scarce resources, and Poor communication can all contribute to conflict among different parties in the workplace including the hospital settings. Other causes of conflict may include, personality conflict, value difference, goal differences among others. Similarly, Johnson, 1994. Maintains that, â€Å"cost containment, restructuring of health care organizations, and competitions have given rise to increased conflict for nursing†. Conflict Resolution Skills 1. Initiate discussion – choose the issue(s) you want to address and be specific 2. Communicate – choose language that is concise, avoiding vague/general terms 3. LISTEN – effectively 4. Recognize the need and ability to make personal changes 5. Learn and use what you have learned . Seek out resources and support as necessary Conflict According Farlex free dictionary, conflict is defined as a state of disharmony between incompatible or antithetical persons, ideas, or interests; a clash. Also, Kelly, 2006. Defined conflict as â€Å"A disagreement between individuals who perceive a threat to their needs, interests, and or concerns†. General p erceptions of conflict as â€Å"negative:† 1. Anger 2. Disagreement 3. Hostility 4. Threat 5. Anxiety 6. Competition 7. Tension 8. Violence 9. Destruction 10. Pain 11. War Potential Productive Outcomes of Conflict: 1. Clarifying 2. Learning 3. Stimulating 4. Intimate 5. Courageous 6. Strengthening 7. Creative 8. Helpful 9. Enriching 10. Caring 11. Opportunity 12. Inclusive 13. Managing conflict constructively depends in large measure on clear, open, and honest communication Conflict Resolution Conflict resolution  is conceptualized as the methods and processes involved in facilitating the peaceful ending of  conflict. Often, committed group members attempt to resolve group conflicts by actively communicating information about their conflicting motives or ideologies to the rest of the group. Nature of Conflict Through the integration of participants’ perspectives, interests, belief systems and values, conflict and conflict resolution play important roles in individual and social evolution and development. Conflict arises when one or more participants view the current system as not working. At least one party is  sufficiently dissatisfied with the status quo  that they are willing to  own the conflict  and speak up with the hope of being able to influence the situation to arrive at an improved condition. Conflict may be viewed as a process we put ourselves through to achieve a new condition and self-definition. Through conflict we have opportunities to be creatively self-defining. If nothing else,  conflict allows us to do things differently in the future. Through the resolution of conflict, we can, if we choose, evolve and redefine ourselves, our relationships, our community, our society and our world. It is no accident that we most often find ourselves in conflict with those with whom we spend the most time — family, friends, business associates, and fellow organizational members. There is a great benefit, in terms of the quality of our lives, in being able to constructively resolve conflict with those around us. Basic Categories of Conflict Intrapersonal Conflict The conflict that is happening inside of an individual is intrapersonal conflict. This type of conflict takes place when there is an inconsistency in our ideas, attitudes, emotions or values. This type of conflict occurs within the person. It involves an internal struggle to clarify contradictory values or wants. A nur se occasionally feels conflicted as she struggles to balance her job requirements with her personal life and beliefs. In this situation, a nurse is experiencing intrapersonal conflict. Ethical dilemmas are often a source of intrapersonal conflict, although nurses can experience it for other reasons. For example, a nurse at work may have an intrapersonal conflict if her child is at home sick, since she feels an obligation to her employer and a need to be home with her child. Interpersonal Conflict Interpersonal conflict is the conflict that takes place between individuals–friends, family members, couples or even strangers. These types of conflicts usually take place when people communicate directly with each other. When two nurses disagree, an interpersonal conflict occurs. These types of conflicts are not limited solely to nurses, as patients can enter into an interpersonal conflict with a nurse if they don’t agree with an assessment or recommendation. Interpersonal conflict can be visible as it sometimes results in a person verbally attacking someone else. It can be more damaging to a medical facility if patients witness the conflict. Intragroup Conflict ; Conflict that occurs within a small group of people is intragroup conflict. These conflicts can involve members of a family or workplace team and usually stem from individual differences that end up affecting the entire group. Intergroup Conflict ;Intergroup conflict occurs between different groups. An example is the feud that occurred between the Montagues and the Capulets in Shakespeare’s â€Å"Romeo and Juliet. † When conflict is this large, it can often continue for many years and is extremely complicated to resolve. References http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Conflict_resolution http://www. mindtools. com/pages/article/newLDR_81. htm http://www. helpguide. org/mental/eq8_conflict_resolution. htm http://www. edcc. edu/counseling/documents/Conflict. pdf How to cite Conflict Resolution, Essay examples Conflict resolution Free Essays Successful negotiations pave the way for smooth relationships in the future. To find peaceful solutions to difficult situations. Full-blown battles use up resources time, energy, good reputation, motivation. We will write a custom essay sample on Conflict resolution or any similar topic only for you Order Now By negotiating, you avoid wasting these resources, and you may actually make new allies and find new resources! When should you resolve conflict? Conflict resolution is appropriate for almost any disagreement. Our daily lives offer plenty of opportunities for negotiation – between parents and children, co-workers, friends, etc. And as a result, you probably already have a variety of effective strategies for resolving minor conflicts. But for more serious conflicts, and conflicts between groups rather than individuals, you may need some additional skills. How, for example, should you structure a meeting teens your group and your opponent? When should you settle, and when should you fight for more? How should you react if your opponent attacks you personally? Read on for more information on specific conflict resolution techniques. How should you resolve conflict? There are seven steps to successfully negotiating the resolution of a conflict: 1. Understand the conflict 2. Communicate with the opposition 3. Brainstorm possible resolutions 4. Choose the best resolution Use a third party mediator 5. 6. Explore alternatives 7. Cope with stressful situations and pressure tactics Understand the conflict Conflicts arise for a variety of different reasons. It is important for you to define clearly your own position and interests in the conflict, and to understand those of your opponent. Here are some questions to ask yourself so that you can better define the conflict. Inertest What are my interests? What do I really care about in this conflict? What do I want? What do I need? What are my concerns, hopes, fears? Possible Outcomes What kinds of agreements might we reach? Legitimacy What third party, outside of the conflict, might convince one or both of us that a proposed agreement is a fair one? What objective standard might convince s that an agreement is fair? For example: a law, an expert opinion, the market value of the transaction. Is there a precedent that would convince us that an agreement is fair? Their Interests What are the interests of my opposition? If were in their shoes, what would I really care about in this conflict? What do they want? What do they need? What are their concerns, hopes, fears? Interests play an important role in better understanding conflict. Often, groups waste time â€Å"bargaining over positions. † Instead of explaining what the interests of their position are, they argue about their â€Å"bottom line. † This is not useful way to negotiate, because it forces groups to stick to one narrow position. Once they are entrenched in a particular position, it will be embarrassing for them to abandon it. They may spend more effort on â€Å"saving face† than on actually finding a suitable resolution. It is usually more helpful to explore the group’s interests, and then see what positions suit such interests. Example: Your parent group wants the high school to change its history textbook. You feel that the textbook doesn’t represent the history of Africa adequately. You come to the School Committee and say, â€Å"The only textbook that works for us s The People of Jamaica, and that’s final! † You have presented a position rather than your interests. By drawing a bottom line, you’re stuck in one position. If you don ‘t convince the School Committee to choose this textbook, you’ll lose. A more effective way to approach the School Committee would be to state your interests. You might say, â€Å"We’re concerned about the under- representation of racial minorities in the current Jamaican history textbook, and would like to find an alternative. † By communicating your interests, rather than one position, you are leaving some room to negotiate while still Ewing firm and clear about your goals. Often, the same interest can have many positions. For example, the School Committee might vote to us plenty the history textbook with a packet of articles about minorities as well as other thing about minorities in Jamaica. These are different positions that address the same interest. Communicate with the opposition Now that you have thought through your own interests and those of the other party, you can begin to communicate directly with your opposition. Here are some tips for productive talks: Listen. Their opinions are important to you, because their Opinions are the source of your conflict. If something is important to them, you need to recognize this. Recognizing does not mean agreeing of course! Let everyone participate who wants to. People who participate will have a stake in a resolution. They will want to find a good compromise. Talk about your strong emotions. Let the other side let off steam. Don’t, however, react to emotional outbursts! Try an apology instead of yelling back. Apologizing is not costly, and is often a rewarding technique. Be an active listener. Rephrase what you’re hearing as a question: â€Å"Let me see if I’m following you. You’re saying that†¦ Have got that right? † You can still be rim when you’re listening. Speak about yourself, not the other party. In the textbook example, you might say, â€Å"l feel angry to know that my children are reading this old-fashioned textbook,† rather than, â€Å"How could you choose such a racist book? † Be concrete, but flexible. Speak about your interests, not about your position. Avoid early judgments. Keep asking questions and gathering information. Don’t tell the opposition, â€Å"It’s up to you to solve your problems. † Work to find a solution for everyone. Find a way to make their decision easy. Try to find a way for them to take your position without looking cake, but don’t call it a way for them to â€Å"save face. Egos are important in negotiations! Brainstorm Possible Resolutions Now that you know what the interests of both parties are, and how to better communicate with the opposition, you can start thinking about solutions. Look at all of the interests you have listed, for you and for your opponents, and look for common interests. Often both pa rties share many interests for example, both groups may want stability and public respect. Before you hold a brainstorming meeting, think carefully about how you’ll set up the meeting. Write a clear purpose statement for the meeting. Try to choose a small group of 5-8 people total. Hold the meeting in a different environment from your usual setting. Make sure the setting is an informal one where people feel comfortable and safe. Find an unbiased facilitator, someone who can structure the meeting without sharing his or her own feelings about the conflict. To begin brainstorming, decide whether you want to brainstorm with your opposition, or with only your group. In either case, you will want to establish some ground rules. Work on coming up with as many ideas as possible. Don’t judge or criticize the ideas yet that might prevent people room thinking creatively. Try to maximize (not minimize) your options. Look for win-win solutions, or compromises, in which both parties get something they want. Find a way to make their decision easy During the meeting, seat people side by side, facing the â€Å"problem†Ã¢â‚¬â€œ a blank chalkboard or large pad of paper for writing down ideas. The facilitator will remind people of the purpose of the meeting review the ground rules, and ask participants to agree to those rules. During the brainstorming session, the facilitator will write down all ideas on the chalkboard or pad. Choose the best resolution After the meeting, you will need to decide which resolution is best. Review your brainstorm ideas. Star the best ideas – these are whatnot will work With during the conflict resolution process. Set a time to discuss them and determine which idea is the best. The goal here is to use both groups’ skills and resources to get the best result for everyone. Which resolution gives both groups the most? That resolution is probably the best one. Use a third party mediator As you are brainstorming and choosing a good resolution, you may want to use a third party mediator. This is a person who is not from your group or our opponent’s group, but whom you both trust to be fair. Your mediator can help both sides agree upon a standard by which you’ll judge your resolution. Standards are a way to measure your agreement. They include expert opinions, law, precedent (the way things have been done in the past), and accepted principles. For example, let’s say you’re building a new playground for your town’s elementary school. You disagree with the superintendent about what kinds of materials you’ll use to build the playground. The superintendent wants to use chemical-treated wood, but you feel it’s unsafe. A mediator might read the current guidelines of the lumber industry and tell you which kinds of wood are considered safe for children. Maybe you and the superintendent will agree to follow the lumber industry’s advice-?in other words, to use that as the standard. Your mediator could also, for example, run your brainstorming session. Here are some other possible jobs for a mediator: Setting ground rules for you and your opponent to agree upon (for example, you might both agree not to publicly discuss the dispute) Creating an appropriate setting for meetings Suggesting possible ways to compromise Being an â€Å"ear† for both side’s anger and fear Listening to both sides and explaining their positions to one another Finding the interests behind each side’s positions Looking for win-win alternatives Keeping both parties focused, reasonable, and respectful Preventing any party from feeling that it’s â€Å"losing face† Writing the draft of your agreement with the opposition Perhaps Harriet is considering quitting her job because her boss wants to transfer her to another office. The mediator might say, â€Å"It sounds like Harriet doesn’t care about transferring to the downtown office. What she’s worried about is losing rank. Harriet, do you agree with that? Ms. Snell, do you understand Harrier’s concern? How can we assure Harriet that she won’t lose rank if she agrees to transfer? ‘ Explore alternatives There may be times when, despite your hard work and good will, you cannot find an acceptable resolution to your conflict. You need to think about this possibility before you begin negotiations. At what point will you decide to walk away from negotiations? What are your alternatives if you cannot reach an agreement with your opponent? It is important that you brainstorm your alternatives to resolution early on in the negotiation process, and that you always have your best alternative somewhere in the back of your mind. As you consider possible agreements with your opponent, compare them to this â€Å"best† alternative. If you don’t know what the alternative is, you’ll be negotiating without all the necessary information! In order to come up with an alternative, start by brainstorming. Then, consider the pros and cons of each alternative. Think about which alternative is realistic and practical. Also think about how you can make it even better. At the same time, don’t forget to put yourself in the shoes of your opposition. What alternatives might they have? Why might they choose them? What can you do to make your choice better than their alternative? Roger Fisher and Danny Retell call this alternative your BATAAN Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement. You can read more about BAT AN in their book Getting Ready to Negotiate. Cope with stressful situations and pressure tactics So far, we’ve talked about how to negotiate with a fairly reasonable opponent. However, you need to be prepared to negotiate with all kinds of opponents, both reasonable and unreasonable. What if your opponent is more powerful and influential that you are? What if they refuse to meet or alkyl with you? All of these situations are stressful, and intended to put extra pressure on you to make a quick decision in the opposition ‘s favor. How to cite Conflict resolution, Papers