Whether a relationship is professional or personal, resolving any conflict healthily is of utmost importance. Occurrence of conflicts is common but the way you handle the relationship after a conflict decides the long term health of that relationship. Certain things need to be kept in mind if your purpose is to solve some conflict.
Important tips to remember
1.
Take and give some time – Post a conflict, both the parties need to take their time. If you rush into resolving the conflict just post it has happened, there are high chances of misunderstanding as emotions are still high. Once both the parties get their time, the decision making will be more clearer and rational and not influenced by emotions.
2.
Stress management
– Whether professional or personal, conflict can cause a flood of emotions inside you. So most importantly try and manage your emotions by practicing stress management techniques such as yoga, meditation or any spiritual listening. A well settled mind will only be able to settle down the conflict.
3. Honest communication – Whenever you think is the best time to resolve, look forward towards having an open and honest communication. Expression of feelings and thoughts should be unbiased and truthful. Also most importantly, even if you disagree with the other party, try to respect the other party’s opinion as well.
4. Being a good listener – For communication in an effective way, it’s important to be a good listener as well. Just don’t listen to the words but rather understand the emotions and be empathetic towards the speaker. Try to maintain eye contact with the speaker and use comforting words to make the other party feel comfortable.
5.
Emotional awareness
– One key factor of resolving any sort of conflict is based on how emotionally aware you are. Resolving any argument needs a clear understanding of your emotions and why you feel in a particular way. Know what is it that made you feel bad and communicate yourself appropriately.
6. Stay away from blame game – Never use the tactic of blame game as empathy is what will lead you to repair the conflict in a better way. Blame will only and only worsen the conflict rather than solving it.
7. Own the responsibility – Whether the fault happened at your end or not, take the responsibility of the situation onto your shoulders. Apologise sincerely if you feel you were at fault at any point of time.
8. Humour can work wonders – Conflict solution will quicken up if tackled in a humorous way. You can say certain things in humour which you might not be able to speak openly otherwise. Just be aware that you laugh with the other party, not at them.
Any conflict can be resolved, no matter how big it is, if handled appropriately with well communication and empathetic behaviour. Just be sure that you are interested in resolving it!
Authored by: Navneet Kaur, transformational and communication coach
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