Are you in the middle of a conflict? Besides the awkwardness of the situation, it is affecting everyone around you and your ability to get things done. Use these tips to move the situation toward resolution.
Acknowledge their concern or state your concern
+
Add an empathetic statement
+
State your interest in resolution or the reason for the way it is
+
Ask “How can I help?”
Here are some reasons this formula works.
- Giving the other party a listening ear pulls some of the emotion out of the interaction.
- Encouraging them to talk helps them verbalize what they are feeling and rationalize the situation.
- Apologies can move the conflict forward to resolution. Never be afraid to apologize if it will move the situation forward. It shows you are taking responsibility for your participation in resolution.
- All parties involved usually can assume some responsibility in most misunderstandings.
This article is an excerpt from Currency: Striking Networking Gold in a Relationship Economy. Click here to learn more about the book and buy your own copy.
