In any situation involving more than one person, conflict can arise. The cause of conflicts range from philosophical differences and divergent goals to power imbalances. Unmanaged or poorly managed conflicts lead to a breakdown in trust and lost productivity.
Conflict, arguments and change are natural parts of our lives, as well as the lives of every agency, organisation and nation.
Conflict resolution is a way for two or more parties to find a peaceful solution to a disagreement among them. The disagreement may be personal, financial, political or emotional.
When a dispute arises, often the best course of action is negotiation to resolve the disagreement. The goals of negotiation are:
- To produce a solution that all parties can agree to
- To work as quickly as possible to find this solution
- To improve, not hurt, the relationship between the groups in conflict.
Conflict resolution through negotiation can be good for all parties involved. Often, each side will get more by participating in negotiations that they would by walking away from, and it can be an opportunity for your group to get resources that might otherwise be out of reach.
