Managing Conflict in the text book Group Communication
Effective Conflict Management Strategies
Learning Objectives
- List four preventive steps that a group and its members may take to lessen the likelihood of experiencing damaging conflict.
- Identify measures related to space and time that a group may employ to mediate against potentially destructive conflict
- Describe steps which members of a group may take to manage conflict when it arises.
- Explain the "SLACK" method of managing conflict.
I've
led a school whose faculty and students examine and discuss and debate
every aspect of our law and legal system. And what I've learned most is
that no one has a monopoly on truth or wisdom. I've learned that we make
progress by listening to each other, across every apparent political or
ideological divide.
- Elena Kagan
In calm water every ship has a good captain.
- Swedish Proverb
To be peaceable is, by definition, to be peaceable in time of conflict.
- Progressive magazine
If
group members communicate effectively and show sensitivity to each
other's needs and styles, they can often prevent unproductive and
destructive conflict from developing. Nevertheless, they should also be
prepared to respond in situations when conflict does crop up.
Before
considering some strategies for dealing with conflicts, it's worth
pointing out that the title of this section refers to "management" of
conflict rather than to "resolution". The reason for this choice of
terminology is that not all conflict needs to be - or can be - resolved.
Still, most conflict needs to be managed to keep it from side-tracking,
slowing down, weakening, or eventually destroying a group.