Describe conflict and then describe the conflict resolution process and how it can be of benefit and is vitally important to us?
What is Conflict?
Interpersonal conflict has been defined as:
“An expressed struggle between at least two interdependent parties who perceive incompatible goals, scarce resources, and interference from the other party in achieving their goals”.
Unpicking this a little, it means that for a disagreement to become a conflict, there needs to be:
Some element of communication: a shared understanding that there is a disagreement;
The well-being of the people involved need to depend on each other in some way. This doesn’t mean that they have to have equal power: a manager and subordinate can be equally as interdependent as a married couple;
The people involved perceive that their goals are incompatible, meaning that they cannot both be met;
They are competing for resources; and
Each perceives the other as interfering with the achievement of their goals.
Resolving Conflict
It’s important to emphasise that dealing with conflict early is usually easier, because positions are not so entrenched, others are less likely to have started to take sides, and the negative emotions are not so extreme. The best way to address a conflict in its early stages is through negotiation between the participants.