Conflict Resolution
Address disagreements early with curiosity and focus on interests.
Explanation
Most people avoid conflict until it explodes or becomes personal. Healthy conflict resolution involves addressing disagreements when they're still small and focusing on underlying interests rather than stated positions. The goal isn't to eliminate conflict but to make it productive by separating the people from the problem.
Real-World Example
Position: 'We need more people.' Position: 'We need fewer people.' Interest behind first: 'We're overwhelmed with work.' Interest behind second: 'We're spending too much.' Now you can solve the real problem: how to manage workload cost-effectively. Maybe better tools, not more people.
How to Apply
Step 1: Get curious, not furious. Ask 'Help me understand your perspective.' Step 2: Identify interests behind positions. What do they really need? Step 3: Generate options together. Step 4: Agree on criteria for choosing. Step 5: Select solution based on shared interests. Focus on 'we have a problem to solve' not 'you are the problem.'