IS CONFLECT RESOLUTION PROCESS DIFFICULT TO IMPLEMENT? THESE 6 STRATEGIES WILL HELP YOU.

           IS CONFLICT RESOLUTION PROCESS DIFFICULT TO IMPLEMENT? THESE 6 STRATEGIES WILL HELP YOU.
 some attempts to settle conflicts are not successful.That is when mediation helps.Through mediation, an unbiased third party helps settle the difference.You may be able to find a mediator on your own.Friends and family members are often willing to help you think of satisfying solutions to any disagreement.

         Conflict resolution is a process and requires strategies that need to be carefully followed in order to help the mediator resolve the conflict under consideration. Below are six strategies that can help you resolve a conflict with ease. As you get them lean more on implementation. The things you need to do in resolving a conflict are as follows:

1)      IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM: Make sure that everyone agrees on what exactly the problem is. At times this step can lead quickly to a resolution of the problem without further action.

2)      IDENTIFY POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS: Come up with as many possible solutions as you can think of. Accept suggestions –even those that sound unrealistic. People should feel free to speak without being criticized, judged , or censored

3)      EVALUATE EACH SUGGESTED SOLUTION: For each proposed solution, ask: Does it solve the problem? Is it practical? If the answer to any question is no, that solution must be modified or discarded.

4)      PICK THE BEST SOLUTION: Make sure that every body  or at 95% of those present agree to the solution chosen; otherwise the conflict has not been resolved

5)      SEE IF THE SOLUTION IS WORKING: If any party is not satisfied with the arrangement, you need to renegotiate. Go through the steps again.

6)      IF NECESSARY, AGREE TO DISAGREE. Some conflicts cannot be resolved, but all parties should work to prevent unresolved issues from escalating the conflict. The best solution here may simply be acceptance.

 The above 6 steps, if well mastered and applied, most conflicts will be resolved within the shortest possible time. You can add other strategies that will ease your work.

NEW AND SMART THOUGHTS TO HAVE BEFORE MEDIATING IN A CONFLICT

          NEW AND SMART THOUGHTS TO HAVE BEFORE MEDIATING IN A CONFLICT.

                
                           

      Life is a battle which no one has ever won but those who fight it with wisdom live a bit longer on the battle field than those who use other means. Remember, wisdom comes from God and nowhere else. Seek God’s help if you really want to be a successful mediator. Mediation is needed always because nobody is perfect. From the bible in Psalm 33:16-18 it is said “A king does not because of his powerful army; a soldier does not triumph because of his strength. War horses are useless for victory; their great strength cannot save. The Lord watches over those who obey him and those who trust in his constant love.” This means the presence of a powerful army will never resolve a conflict unless God comes in. His presence will need people of integrity to mediate. Are you good mediator?
   

   

     As a mediator, your aim is to resolve conflicts and this requires some basic skills which you should have in mind. Below are thoughts you must keep in mind as you practice resolving conflicts:

Ø  Use words, not fist. Take pride in your ability to use your mind instead of physical force to settle a disagreement

Ø  Take charge of the situation. Make the decision to resolve the conflict peacefully .Do not satisfy the other person’s wish to fight if that is what he or she seems to want. Do what you want to do, not what others want you to want you to do.

Ø  Talk in a location where others will not distract you or interfere with your efforts.

Ø  When you talk, take turns. Give other persons a chance to speak, and then use active listening and keep an open mind.

Ø  Show respect in order to get respect back. If the other person does not show you respect, set an example anyway.

Ø  Control your voice. Yelling provokes the other person to yell. Staying calm shows strength and character.

Ø  Speak the truth .That is what you want hear, so that is what you need to deliver.

Ø  Control your tongue. Name-calling and cursing promote conflict rather than helping to settle it. Use “I” messages instead to express your point of view.

Ø  Use body language effectively. Stand firm, showing that you want to work peacefully and can handle the situation. Avoid standing too close, which can be threatening. Make firm but friendly eye contacts.

Ø  Value your own safety. Although conflict resolution strategies work in most situations, occasionally another person is uncooperative and out of control. He or she may not have the skills that you have or may not care. Some of these situations can be dangerous, especially when weapons are involved. That is when you have to say to yourself, “my life and well-being are worth more to me than winning this disagreement.” It takes a stronger person to walk away from situations like these, but doing so makes you the smarter one.

Applying the above thoughts in a peaceful and isolated venue will lead to a successful resolution of a conflict. Ensuring that justice is applied to the fullest leaves the mediation team fully satisfied as well as those in conflict.

                

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HOW CONFLICTS GENERATE

       CONFLICT  UPRISING

As I walked into the youth center, I noticed some of my friends dancing at one end of the room. What I saw made my heart skip a beat. My close friend James was dancing to a cool music with Marceline. I had gone out with Marceline for three week-ends in a row. I had high hopes that we would continue to see each other-and James knew that.

    I stood inside the doorway watching. I felt hurt and angry-with both of them. How could my friend do this to me? How could James? As the feelings grew in me, many thoughts went through my mind. Part of me wanted to confront both of them while the other part wanted to run back outside. Instead I waited until the music stopped. As soon as James was alone, I went closer and invited  him for a talk. My situation was an indication of how a conflict generates.

  WHAT IS A CONFLICT?

A conflict is a struggle between people who disagree. The struggle may be verbal, physical, or both. Conflicts range from little disagreements between friends to violent battles between gangs or armies. Conflicts are not unusual.  Everybody argues with someone from time to time. In principle, conflicts are not bad. Through them, people settle disagreements and move towards constructive action. In this way, there is positive force in people’s lives. When conflicts arise for the wrong reasons and when they are not well handled, they are an unwelcome part of life.

WHY CONFLICTS OCCUR.

  Some conflicts are so trivial that people do not even know how they began. Others have very apparent causes. What creates conflict for one person might not be the same for someone else. In general, conflicts arise from circumstances notably, situational factors, personal differences, and power struggles.

i)                    Situational factors: Any situation that dissatisfies people can stir conflict. Such situations occur commonly during daily life. I always ate launch with my wife at home. When she does not show up for the third time in a week, I am upset. When I saw her eating with her sister the next day, I became even more upset. This was a situation that was developing that could result in a conflict between us.

ii)                   Personal differences: Personality differences are often at the root of conflict. Values can clash when people express them. If tolerance for differences is low, conflict is even more likely. You need to be very sensitive to feelings of people around you in order to speak and act in ways that do not hurt them.

iii)                 Power Struggles: When people feel a need to be in control, a power struggle may result. This too can spur conflict. When a boss routinely assigns what he avoids to a subordinate, that subordinate may start wanting to do something about it especially if the boss's position of leadership is an elective one.

In each of the circumstances above and many others, preventing conflicts is not the issue. Such conflicts are part of life. The extend to which a conflict goes, depends on your response to it from the beginning. Conflicts have to be handled appropriately, because when they aren’t, individuals and society pay a heavy price.