Conflict Management Strategies – 10 Ways To Get Past Conflicts
Want the best conflict management strategies? Here are 10 tips to get over past conflicts and finally put it to rest.
Let’s chat about conflict management strategies…If you are looking for the best conflict management strategies, then you have come to the right place.
Let me start by asking you a question:
How would your life look today if you could resolve your past conflicts?
Now I know conflict is never an easy thing to deal with, but old, deeply rooted conflicts can really affect your body, mind and spirit if you hold tightly onto past transgressions.
When you allow a past conflict to stew inside your mind and become a defining part of a relationship, it can be challenging to move forward.
Thankfully it’s not impossible; it’s just a matter of taking the right conflict resolution approach.
Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced. James Baldwin
Conflict cannot survive without your participation. Wayne Dyer
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
TIP 1 – Look at the Conflict with an Open Heart and Mind
Many times a past conflict can be resolved by simply looking at it with a fresh, calm perspective.
When you learn how to look at a past conflict without raising your blood pressure or losing sleep, you’ll be much more likely to find an amicable resolution.
Sometimes the simplest solution out of conflict is becoming someone’s friend, instead of saying goodbye forever. Shannon L. Alder
Whenever you’re in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude. William James
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
TIP 2 – The first thing you should do is look at the conflict objectively.
When you have a conversation with the other person involved, you will need to raise all of the issues on your mind, but you must always do so respectfully.
Actively listen to the other person and then ask that they do the same for you.
Remember to focus on the problem, not the person because personal attacks never solve anything!
If you’re having a difficult time communicating, a third-party can help mediate the discussion so that all parties are equally heard.
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
TIP 3 – Use your mutual interests and concerns as a starting point.
For example, if you were fighting with a sibling over a parent’s estate, perhaps the goal is that you were both trying to ensure that the estate was as fair and balanced as possible.
This is fair.
Now go forward from this point so that you start at a place where you both agree.
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
TIP 4 – Brainstorm resolutions that everyone can agree on.
Conflict usually occurs when one or both parties sense inequality, so get together and brainstorm ideas that will help you resolve the conflict.
You may find that you are actually building on one another’s ideas.
That’s a good thing!
The goal is to come to a resolution that provides mutual gain (a win-win rather than a loss-win or loss-loss).
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
TIP 5 – Create standards of how things will be going forward and create all of your agreements surrounding these standards.
This will help to ensure that you don’t have the same obstacles in the future.
By setting specific standards, everyone will be able to communicate in the most respectful and effective manner moving forward.
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
TIP 6 – Accept What You Cannot Change
We all hear that we should accept the things that we cannot change, but this is easier said than done.
When it comes to past conflicts you should always seek to resolve them first if that’s an option available to you.
If you can’t because the other person isn’t remotely interested in resolving the conflict, so be it.
It’s time to accept the things that you cannot change.
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
TIP 7 – Give up control.
This tip is honestly life-changing.
When you give up trying to control what is uncontrollable suddenly the stress of dealing with this past conflict dissolves.
You will feel like a mountain has been lifted off of your shoulders because you are no longer carrying that unnecessary load.
You may even find that you have a whole new look on life as well as the conflict and the person or people involved with it.
Peace is suddenly available to you and that’s because peace isn’t the absence of conflict.
It is the ability to hand conflict by peaceful means. Don’t ever forget this is an option always available to you!
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
TIP 8 – Share what you feel.
When you are feeling angry, hurt or upset, try sharing your feelings with a trusted friend or family member.
It’s easier to move past conflicts when you have sounding boards at your disposal.
It’s also healthy to let it all out and let it all go.
You don’t necessarily have to talk to someone who was involved in the conflict, just share your feelings openly and honestly.
By getting it out of your mind and off your chest, you’re able to find peace within your heart.
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
TIP 9 – Look for the positives.
Not everyone likes to take this viewpoint but I honestly believe there are always positive things that come from every situation, even the harshest of conflicts.
Even if the experience just taught you to be more compassionate to others – that is a good thing!
Or if it made you realize you are so much stronger than you think – these insights are a gift to you!
Maybe you realized the importance of communication or forgiveness.
Whatever the case, when you can find something positive about a past situation you’ll find that coping with conflict is much easier.
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
TIP 10 – Focus on forgiveness.
When you focus on forgiveness, the pain associated with conflict often suddenly disappears.
After all, we are human – we all will make mistakes from time to time.
When you realize that we live in an imperfect world it’ll be easier to let go of the hurt feelings and anger associated with the conflict.
So just remember the moment you get over these past conflicts is the moment YOU CHOOSE TO PUT THEM DOWN (as opposed to always fondling these old stories).
When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free. ― Katherine Ponder
Forgiveness isn’t approving what happened. It’s choosing to rise above it. – Robin Sharma
Forgiveness is not something you do for someone else; it’s something you do for yourself. To forgive is not to condone, it is to refuse to continue feeling bad about an injury. ― Jim Beaver
It’s not just other people we need to forgive. We also need to forgive ourselves. For all the things we didn’t do. All the things we should have done. ― Mitch Albom
-
Before You Go…
– See my EVERYTHING PAGE and grab a free gift > HERE
– Get instant access to EVERY COURSE I’ve ever created > HERE
– Listen to my INSPIRING LIFE PODCAST on Spotify or via Apple Podcasts.
– Or for biz owners, listen to LIFE COACH FOR BIZ MOMS Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
I’m Frances Vidakovic – a mindset & action coach for quietly ambitious women who want to stop overthinking and finally take aligned action. I help women achieve their goals and follow through on what matters, without sacrificing their sanity or soul.