Assessment

Potential conflicts can utilize the following rubrics as a way to assess whether they are good prospects for a cooperative rather than an adversarial conflict resolution process.

The content of this page is intended to educate you about some of the ideas & processes associated with cooperative negotiation and conflict resolution. After reviewing this page and the “Resources” page you believe that your conflict might be solved cooperatively and collaboratively, or that we can help in some way, please contact our company at your convenience. At a very minimum, we can assess your situation and offer you expert professional guidance regarding your rational choices.

Typical resolution process for agreeable parties who communicate assertively and who can probably use a cooperative conflict resolution process:

Step 1:
Create an effective atmosphere. This involves personal preparation, timing, location, and opening statements.

Step 2:
Clarify perceptions of the conflict. This requires conflict partners understanding what the conflict is really about.

Step 3:
Focus on individual needs and shared needs. This necessitates accepting that the relationship itself has needs beyond the needs of each individual in it.

Step 4:
Build shared positive power. This promotes the constructive capabilities of each partner within the conflict.

Step 5:
Focus on the present and the future then learn from the past. This method underscores the value of attending to what the partners need in the present, going forward into the future, rather than getting caught up in past dysfunction.

Step 6:
Generate options together. This allows the brainstorming process to discover options that go beyond fixed choices of each individual. There are often undiscovered options.

Step 7:
Develop easy and successful action steps. These build trust and momentum.

Step 8:
Develop future agreements that benefit the relationship and its partners. These propel the relationship forward in a cooperative way.

I. Types of Resolution Processes

II. Styles of Conflict Management

III. Communication Styles, Techniques, & Ideas