Conflict Resolution

Everyone has conflict with another person at some point in their lives — and more realistically, everyone has conflict with someone else at some point each week. It’s normal to experience friction or incompatibility with coworkers, friends, family members, and even partners from time to time. Conflict is a healthy part of relationships when it is handled intentionally and respectfully.

What is conflict resolution?

Conflict resolution occurs when two or more parties handle their differences or discord with empathy, compassion, and patience. Not everyone will get their way when a point of resolution is met, but everyone will feel heard, understood, and considered. When the conflict resolution process is done in a healthy way, disagreements can actually bring people closer.

It can be difficult for many people to engage in disputes. This includes self-efficacy — a person standing up or advocating for themselves. It can also include setting boundaries or letting others know that they’ve crossed a boundary. It takes a level of vulnerability to share that you’re uncomfortable or distressed by someone else’s words, actions, or ideas, which is why many people find themselves struggling to resolve conflict effectively.

Origin of conflict issues

There are many reasons why people may have dissension that makes it difficult to work or live with those around them. Often, individuals who have difficulty with conflict had a complex relationship with opposition or disagreements as children. They may have watched their caretakers or loved ones fight and learned their behaviors. They may have seen adults around them manage conflict with passive aggression, shouting, or harmful behaviors. Without knowing how else to disagree with someone else, these children grow up to be adults that either shy away from conflicts or engage in a conflict situation from a place of defensiveness.

Many conflicts, especially those in the workplace but also those at home, stem from a power imbalance. It can be especially stressful to stand up to someone who has more power than you, even when you know that they’re in the wrong. This can be further exacerbated if the feedback isn’t communicated clearly. In fact, miscommunication is a huge reason why many individuals engage in antagonism — and find that resolving conflict is terribly difficult.

Signs of conflict issues

There’s a wide spectrum of ways that struggles and incompatibilities manifest in daily life. Some individuals find themselves becoming overcome by emotions, timid, frozen, or disengaged when there’s a disagreement — even if it’s something that they really care about. Others become impassioned, animated, and combative with their arguments. Here are a few signs that may indicate that you have an issue with conflicts:

• You avoid the person that you disagree with, even small talk about topics other than the issue
• You find yourself constantly thinking of what your next arguments and counterarguments will be, without even engaging in conversation with that person
• You feel overly anxious when you think about confronting the person
• You’ve talked about how much you disagree with that person to your friends and family, without having approached them
• You make self-judgements based on your reaction to the conflict, including negative self-talk

Conflict makes many people uncomfortable, especially when there are face-to-face confrontations about an issue. Likely, both or all sides feel this discomfort and that’s why it’s important to handle conflict intentionally and collaboratively.

Of particular importance is finding solutions for workplace conflicts. They can have a major impact on individuals, teams, and even an entire organization with multiple parties involved. When differences are not resolved properly, they can lead to decreased productivity, lower morale, and even greater employee turnover. By practicing effective problem-solving, conflict in the workplace can improve team member relationships, communication can become more effective, and productivity can increase. It’s important to create a culture that values open communication and encourages employees to address workplace conflict constructively and respectfully before the HR department gets involved!

Therapy for conflict resolution

Many therapists specialize in helping their clients build strong conflict resolution skills. A therapist is an indispensable third party that teaches their clients core skills to resolve a conflict with different parties, whether at work or home. Key strengths, such as effective communication and active listening skills are beneficial resources. Therapists coach their clients in successful conflict resolution strategies, including:

• How to express emotions, needs, or boundaries.
• How to be appropriately vulnerable in difficult conversations;, or listen to another point of view, or side of the argument.
• How to frame feedback or criticism so that it doesn’t get taken the wrong way.

Therapists will also encourage their clients to be introspective about the reasons behind why the conflict bothers them. The client may use a values clarification exercise to figure out why they feel uneasy about a situation.

Besides skill-building, therapists are there to hold space for your thoughts and feelings. While they may share helpful perspectives with you or encourage you to take a more objective approach to the problem, your therapist is a cheerleader who will be there for you throughout the process of resolution.