1 / 12

Conflict resolution series: Building to an agreement

Conflict resolution series: Building to an agreement. University Life Cafe. The challenge.

yves
Download Presentation

Conflict resolution series: Building to an agreement

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Conflict resolution series: Building to an agreement Conflict Resolution Series University Life Cafe

  2. The challenge • Conflict resolution involves various strategies to help differing parties find grounds for commonality and to build on that for sustainable continuing relations, or an amicable discontinuance of relations. • This slideshow provides a brief overview of how individuals or groups may build to a workable agreement. Conflict Resolution Series

  3. Understandings of the various interests • In a situation, the different parties may have different perceptions about the issues at hand. They may have different conceptualizations of what a solution may involve. • Understanding the various interests may make it easier to work towards a shared solution. This may mean conducting research. This may mean opening channels of inter-communications. This may mean candid sharing of ideas and perceptions. • It will be critical to avoid cultural dissonance issues. Conflict Resolution Series

  4. Avoiding polarization • Because solutions may come in many forms, it will be important to avoid taking a polarizing stance. • Over commitment to a pre-set conclusion will mean that there’s much less room to negotiate or come to agreement. • It would help to maintain flexibility and creativity in the pursuit of a mutually agreeable solution. Conflict Resolution Series

  5. preparation • Preparation for a negotiation involves definition of one’s interests, one’s goals in the negotiation, and an objective evaluation of one’s best alternative to a negotiated agreement. This provides leverage in a negotiation. This also helps those negotiating know how far they want to go. • Preparation also makes the shared negotiation time more valuable. • Preparation may mean working with facts that may be powerful in informing the discussion and mutual decision-making. Conflict Resolution Series

  6. Defining issues • Identifying the issues that are important to the various stakeholders to a conflict would be important. • Rarely are there single issues that describe the points of conflict. Often, there are a range of concerns, and these should be raised – in order to push towards an effective solution. Conflict Resolution Series

  7. Good faith bargaining • Trust is a critical commodity. That is the grounds upon which any negotiation may take place. Without it, it makes little sense to negotiate, as the follow-through may be poor…and the information shared may be inaccurate. • If trust is a weak area, the negotiations that follow will be understood to have a range of possible meanings and possible outcomes. Conflict Resolution Series

  8. Engaging Decision-makers • A negotiation should engage the decision-makers in an organization that can actually execute on a decision. Negotiating with non-decision-makers may surface some information, but it will not have traction. Conflict Resolution Series

  9. principles Negotiating on issues of principles may be highly beneficial for an individual or group. Principled negotiations focus on shared values…and an interpretation of those values. • How fair and equitable are the possible solutions—for each of the parties involved? • How accurate is the information on the table? Is there more information that would inform a decision? • How timely is the solution? • What are the practical effects of the solution on all the parties at the table? Conflict Resolution Series

  10. Third-party arbitration and expertise • Third-party arbitration may be helpful in helping differing parties get past an impasse and to make progress. • Sometimes, experts may offer useful advice. They may be brought in as necessary to the negotiations. Conflict Resolution Series

  11. A solution for the now and the future • How efficient are the proposed solutions? • How practically do-able? • How observably measureable would the solution be? How precise is the agreement? • How much room for interpretation is there for the agreement? • How may the solution be moved forward effectively in different phases (if necessary)? • How fair will the solution be going forward? • How flexible is the solution for future changes? • When should the agreement be revisited for efficacy and revision? And on what basis? Conflict Resolution Series

  12. Connection to counseling services • Counseling ServicesKansas State University232 English/Counseling Services BldgManhattan, KS 66506-6503785-532-6927counsel@k-state.edu Conflict Resolution Series

More Related