title: Creating constructive outcomes in conflict.
abstract: 1. Conflict and disagreement are a fact of business life. Effort toward optomizing differences rather than minimizing them is a value added activity--leading to greater creativity, increasing levels of respect in relationships, and better solutions. 2. Proactively looking at potential conflict--where diasgreeing parties are often inherent and/or predictable--can save energy, relationships, and costly mistakes. Diagnosing or "reading" a situation and planning an approach is wise. 3. Several options or responses are available when facing conflict. Knowing when to use a given response is an important interpersonal skill. Relying on learned, habitual, and exclusive approaches to conflict may be limiting. 4. Implementation of effective conflict resolution is a function of attitude, initiative, and flexibility. An exploratory posture and a willingness to learn are constructive in attempting to reach agreements with optimum short and long term effect.
authors.affiliation: Becca Orchard and Associates, Duluth, GA, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Orchard
mesh_terms: D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D017008:Negotiating; D016272:Occupational Health; D011340:Problem Solving; D017132:Workplace