Thursday, February 18, 2010

Conflict Resolution and Peaceful Co-existence

In a world where conflict is trying to become a way of life, there is every reason for you to learn how to live peacefully with your neighbour and make this world a better place. It’s very common and natural for conflicts to arise because we are human beings and we all have different mentalities, ways of thinking, capacities to accept changes and so on. But when these conflicts arise (whether at home, in the office, in the church, in the market, in the school or even in the streets), do we kill our selves because we want to prove a point?

Here is the key to resolving conflict and still have your relationship in-tact: Be soft on the person involved, but be hard on the issue.

Now this is what I mean, if there is an issue (whether at home, in the office, in the church, in the market, in the school or even in the streets) that needs to be treated, have this in your mind-
• The person involved is more important than the issue. Therefore treat the person with some sense of respect, have regard for his personality because if you destroy a person’s confidence and positive self image because of one issue, you might have destroyed the person’s image for life. So try as much as you can to separate ‘the person’ from the ‘act’. Be soft on the person.
• Be hard on the issue. No matter the level of relevance or importance you attach to an issue, one thing is certain, ‘if it’s not right, it’s not’. Treat every issue (remove the person involved) as hard as you can so everyone can know it’s a wrong act.