CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Matt. 5:9

CONFLICT A clash of interests, values, actions or

opinions Actual or perceived opposition May affect others

CAUSES OF CONFLICT Communication failure Personality conflict Value differences Goal differences Methodological differences Substandard performance

A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends. Prov. 16:28

MORE CAUSES Lack of cooperation Differences regarding

authority Differences regarding

responsibility Competition ?????

ADDRESSING CONFLICT Accommodation – surrender one's own

needs and wishes to accommodate the other party.

Avoidance – avoid or postpone conflict by ignoring it, changing the subject, etc. (temporary measure to buy time)

Collaboration – work together to find a mutually beneficial solution. (time-intensive)

Compromise – bring the problem into the open. (may have a third person present)

Competition – assert one's viewpoint at the potential expense of another.

DESTRUCTIVE REACTIONS Verbal/Emotional Abuse Physical Abuse Avoidance ?????

Why is avoidance bad????

ASSIGNING BLAME You’re part of the problem Use “I” messages Don’t look for a scapegoat

“But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat. “ Leviticus 16:10

COLLABORATIONThe goal of collaboration is win-win. Win-win, where both parties get what they want. Win-lose where one party gets what they want. Lose-lose where neither party gets what they

want.

COMPROMISEThe goal of compromise is: Come to a mutually

agreeable conclusion May require a mediator Both sides have to be

willing to work it out

MEDIATION Mediators use appropriate techniques and/or skills

to open and/or improve dialogue between disputants, aiming to help the parties reach an agreement on the disputed matter.

Normally, all parties must view the mediator as impartial.

PEER MEDIATION Students of the same age-group facilitate

resolving disputes between two people or small groups.

Students do not "make decisions" but rather work towards a win-win resolution for both sides in order to avoid further trouble.

PEER MEDIATIONTypes of problems handled: Rumor and gossip Relationship difficulties Harassment Racial and cultural

confrontations

Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down. Proverbs 26:20

GREAT DECISIONS Give thought to the problem. Review your choices Evaluate the consequences of each option. Assess and choose the best choice. Think it over afterward.

IS IT EVER OK TO BREAK A CONFIDENCE? Keep someone from harming themselves or

others ?????