Conflict Resolution

The one constant in life is change. Today, all organizations and the people within them are experiencing more rapid change than ever before. Hand in hand with change comes the certainty of conflict. Conflict can be source of creativity and innovation when individuals and groups embrace diverse viewpoints and can reconcile differences. However, unresolved conflict diverts individual and organizational energy away from constructive and productive work, which ultimately negatively impacts service and the bottom line.

People engaged in conflict are usually fixed in one perspective. They rarely ask each other genuine questions. They may lose contact with their whole selves. Individual responses may make it difficult for them to participate fully and effectively in efforts to resolve the conflict, resulting in the need for third party intervention.

A conflict resolution facilitator is a neutral party who can facilitate an exchange of listening between parties who disagree—and often blame each other for the disagreement—but want to (or must) work together anyway.

The central purpose of this conflict resolution process is to improve communication between the parties in conflict and their willingness to work together constructively now and in the future. "Solving" a particular dispute is never guaranteed, but if the parties are willing to try, improvements in communication and mutual respect can usually be made.

Our processes are rooted in the Genuine Contact™ Program and are highly successful because they focus on what the conflicting parties have in common rather than on differences.  Our processes work because participants are invited to think, talk, listen, and learn about issues and options. Rather than being called upon again to defend their territory, they feel heard and respected, which helps them to hear and respect the other parties.

Contact us to discuss resolving a conflict in your organization or click here to find out how you can learn to facilitate Cross Cultural Conflict Resolution.