Several websites present
detailed information on Conflict Resolution.
You might even decide to test your “conflict resolution quota” prior
to reading further:
General website information
on conflict resolution: (See Related
Links page under Conflict)
Test your ability
to resolve conflicts
“Conflict resolution”
and “problem solving” as a team can be synonymous terms.
Many people don’t like conflict, but members can consider it a
necessity for team growth and development.
If there is never any conflict among team members, perhaps it is because
the team is in the process of "forming.”
Perhaps the overriding team value may be to avoid conflict at any cost.
Perhaps team members do not feel or are not encouraged to participate fully
in the decision making or problem solving process.
Remember, real creativity can emerge when team members brainstorm and
attempt to solve the conflict or problem.
From the outset, for
problem solving techniques and conflict resolution to work, team members need
to examine their willingness to come to a solution.
They must develop the ability to compromise in such a way that
solutions generated are not singular “command” decisions (unless this was the decision making process
that the group previously agreed to).
Not all conflict occurring
within the team will be easily solved or negotiated to one or more action items. Value conflict between team members may not lend itself to
any easy resolution, but it is an excellent point from which to begin
professional values clarification.
