As a mediator, or even a
party on one side of a conflict, one must be able to begin working toward
effective reconciliation by way of first understanding the problem at its root.
The problem at hand may not be the origin (in many interpersonal relationships
at least) of the conflict, rather a catalyst for it. Both mediator and
partakers of the process must be able to collectively correlate between the
base action and the principles that are at play (be it in conflict or for lack
of) in order to effectively deal with the problem. The source of conflict may
even be so far removed that the argument has developed an arbitrary angle to it
– for example leaving a conflict unchecked for so long that it stops being
about a principle and becomes more centered on factors like trivial personal
attacks.
Once being able to gather
a good base understanding of a conflict, all parties need to request solutions
from one another in a bid both be impartial and fair. By understanding the
opposite party's solution at it's core, one can better understand the goals of
that party, and how to align them with one's own for a mutually beneficial
outcome. The question at hand here is, “How can you make things better between
both parties?” and can only be answered by first understanding sole wants
before attempting to combine them into a collective want.
From here, it becomes
easier to start to identify solutions that both disputants can support – the
most acceptable course of action is one in which both parties can walk away
feeling that they had been treated fairly in the extent and brand of
justice/recompense they receive. Once solutions have been realised for their
merits toward a collective rather than an individual, agreement toward an
effective outcome that tackles the source of an issue can be made.
Of course, conflict
resolution involves a host of soft skills that not everyone may possess. At
Mediate2Resolve Online, we offer professional mediation services for a host of
situations, ranging from disputes in the workplace to miscommunications at
home. Please click here to be taken to our
website and explore our full range of services and workshops.