Back to: Jss3 Social Studies (NVE)

Introduction

Managing and resolving conflicts is an essential skill in personal and professional settings. Conflicts can arise in various situations, including at home, in the workplace, and in social environments. They can lead to negative emotions, misunderstandings, and even deteriorating relationships. As such, the ability to handle conflicts effectively is crucial for maintaining positive relationships, building trust, and achieving desired outcomes. This involves understanding the root causes of conflicts, communication skills, active listening, empathy, and the ability to find mutually agreeable solutions. This essay explores the importance of managing and resolving conflicts, the impact of conflicts on personal and professional relationships, and strategies for handling conflicts effectively.

Managing and Resolving Conflicts

Conflict management is distinct from conflict resolution. Conflict management involves strategies for preventing conflict escalation and maintaining control over it. On the other hand, conflict resolution is concerned with finding a solution to a conflict that has already escalated.

Methods of Resolving Conflict

There are several non-violent methods for resolving conflicts, including dialogue, compromise, mediation, arbitration, and court ruling. In dialogue,

1. Dialogue: When parties come together to discuss the issue, they can trade blames but ultimately submit to each other to reach a mutual agreement.
2. Compromise: Similar to dialogue, this involves parties rescinding rigid decisions made during the conflict to promote peace.
3. Mediation: If settlement seems impossible, knowledgeable or elderly individuals can mediate between conflicting parties. Mediators remain impartial and work to reconcile the groups.
4. Arbitration: This private judicial process is legally binding, similar to a court of law. Arbitration is used when parties cannot reach a compromise through mediation. Gbejomiro or MogbejoMi De is an example of an arbitration panel, a popular conflict resolution program on Lagos Television (LTV).
5. Court Ruling: When other methods fail, conflicts can be settled through a court ruling. The court decides which party is justified and compels both parties to abide by the judgement.
6. Restorative justice: This approach focuses on repairing the harm caused by a conflict, rather than punishing the wrongdoer. It involves bringing together the parties involved in a conflict to reach a mutually agreed-upon solution and promote healing.
7. Collaborative law: This is a non-adversarial approach to conflict resolution where the parties involved work together with the help of lawyers and other professionals to come up with a mutually beneficial solution.
8. Peer mediation: This method involves the use of trained mediators who are peers of the parties involved in a conflict, such as students in a school setting. The mediators help the parties involved to communicate effectively and find a solution to the conflict.
9. Conciliation: This approach involves a third party who helps the parties involved in a conflict to communicate and find common ground. The conciliator acts as a neutral mediator and may offer suggestions for a resolution, but ultimately it is up to the parties to come to an agreement.
10. Ombudsman: An ombudsman is an independent and impartial person who investigates and resolves complaints made by individuals or groups. This approach can be used in a variety of settings, such as in workplaces or government agencies, to address conflicts and grievances.

Attributes Required for Conflict Resolution

1. Mutual understanding: It is important for the parties involved in the conflict to try and understand each other’s perspective. This can be achieved through active listening and honest communication.
2. Respect for the rule of law: The rule of law should be upheld and respected by all parties involved. This means that any agreements reached through conflict resolution should be legally binding and enforceable.
3. Tolerance: It is important to be tolerant in the face of provocation and frustration. This can be achieved by being patient and understanding with the other party, and avoiding reacting in a way that could escalate the conflict.
4. Respect for opposing views: Even if the opposing views seem unreasonable, it is important to respect them. This helps to create an environment where each party feels heard and acknowledged.
5. Patience: Conflict resolution takes time, and it is important to be patient for the due process to thrive. Rushing the process can lead to a half-baked solution that is not satisfactory for all parties involved.
6. Reconciliation: It is important to have a reconciliatory disposition towards the issues. This means being willing to compromise and find common ground.
7. Discipline and self-control: During the conflict resolution process, it is important to maintain discipline and self-control. This means avoiding any actions or statements that could escalate the situation.
8. Counselling: In some cases, counselling may be necessary to help parties deal with the emotional and psychological impact of the conflict. This can help to restore a sense of normalcy and trust between the parties.
9. Effective communication and active listening between parties
10. Empathy and understanding of each other’s perspectives
11. Willingness to seek common ground and find win-win solutions
12. Commitment to follow through on agreed upon solutions and take action to prevent future conflicts.