Preventative measures

To reduce the possibility of destructive conflict:

• Listen with your full attention.
• Respect confidentiality.
• Behave as you would ask others to behave.
• Do not take an aggressive attitude.
• Review communication systems regularly.
• Frequently review your priorities.
• Be clear about your own responsibilities but flexible in helping others.
• Encourage others' ideas and give them constructive feedback about implementation.
• Respect and nourish cultural diversity.
• Ask questions when a situation is unclear.
• Identify the problem.
• When discussing opposing views, look for common ground.
• Follow the organisation's grievance and disciplinary procedures.
• Make considered judgements.
• Avoid making assumptions.
• Resist the temptation to share details of a disagreement with people not directly involved: this encourages factions and could escalate what may be a minor, localised difficulty.
• Be aware of personal prejudices.
• When a dispute arises, deal with it - denial will not solve it.

... And, wherever humanly possible, separate the person from the problem.

Find out more about other conflict resolution issues and examples in the In more depth section.