How to resolve conflicts? There are only three approaches, according to the management.about.com website.
1. Collaboration
Focus on collaboration when the situation is not urgent and when the decision you are about to make is important. A collaborative approach is the best way especially when there are many people involved and affected. Also when your previous attempts to resolve the conflict all have failed, you may have no other choice than try to find a mutually acceptable solution, therefore collaborate.
When should you not try to collaborate? When the decision must be made urgently or when the issue is not really important to anybody else.
2. Competitive approach
When you want to compete, you take a firm stand. Typically you will win, usually with someone who doesn’t want to compete. This style of approach to conflict is often considered to be aggressive and therefore other people involved may feel betrayed and exploited in the end. When there are people who are sensitive to the conflict, you must be especially cautious with this approach. Also don’t use this approach when you need buy-in from others.
However there are situations when you can deploy this style effectively. Particularly when you need to make a quick decision, that means in case of an emergency, or when there is a need to make an unpopular decision.
3. Arriving at a compromise
Compromising approach means that all sides are willing to give up something they want in order to arrive at a resolution quickly. That can be useful when you need to make the final solution sooner rather than later or also when the power between the people involved is equal.
However, compromising is not appropriate when the situation is urgent or when a wide variety of important needs must be met.
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