Conflict
Although the term conflict covers an almost limitless range of situations it usually boils down to not seeing or understanding someone else's point of view.
When it happens it's rarely fun and can be quite uncomfortable - for example, if it involves a good mate or member of the family.
Arguments
We all get into arguments and when they happen it's best to try and make them as painless as possible.
This makes the situation less stressful and means we're less likely to fall out with someone over something that, at the start, was pretty trivial.
- Never react to conflict with violence as this can make a bad situation worse. It also makes it a lot harder to resolve the original problem.
- If possible try and talk to the person you're in disagreement with. If there's the possibility that they could become violent, it could help to test the water by first talking with them on the phone.
- If they agree to meet to discuss things, tell them how you feel about what they've done. This is a lot less confrontational that criticising their actual point of view. Instead focus on how worried, upset etc. they've made you feel.
- If you can't agree with each other then do the next best thing: agree to disagree.
- It can help to have another person - like a mutual friend - to oversee any discussion and stop it getting too heated or out of control.
- If the conflict happens at work, see if your employer has any scheme set up to deal with these kinds of situations.
