The one constant in life
is change. Today, all organizations and the people within them
are experiencing more rapid change than ever before. And hand
in hand with change is the certainty of conflict. Conflict uses
up individual, group and organizational energy, taking this energy
away from constructive and productive relationships and work.
With the
right conditions, a great deal of conflict can be solved without
any need for a conflict resolution meeting. Sometimes love is
the key ingredient that breaks through the conflict, at other
times something bigger and more important arises and minimizes
the focus on the conflict, and at other times a common task is
found and while working through the common task, the conflict
disappears. However, there are also situations of conflict that
benefit from a conflict resolution meeting.
There are
many forms of meetings for working with conflict, including mediation
and negotiation. Sometimes these work to solve conflict, and other
times they work towards an agreement or a compromise but the conflict
itself remains quite alive, often under the surface, only to erupt
again later.
Our Cross
Cultural Conflict Resolution meeting format was designed to create
the conditions for the people involved to really solve the conflict.
In developing this approach, we followed the philosophy that deep
within all people are some things that are universally the same.
People engaged in conflict are usually fixed in one perspective.
They rarely ask each other genuine questions. They also tend to
lose contact with their whole selves, rendering a part of themselves
voiceless. From this position, they are unable to participate
fully and effectively in efforts to resolve the conflict and recognize
the needs they have in common.
Cross Cultural
Conflict Resolution is a practical, holistic meeting process for
working through conflict. Within the meeting, that which is universally
the same amongst people is worked with as a base. However, before
the meeting, and continuing through our process, we've found it
is also beneficial to work with the individual's fixed perspective,
enabling them to move beyond their own view. Within our conflict
resolution process, participants receive individual preparation
so that when everyone comes together in the meeting, they are
in a more receptive state, and ready to listen to each other.
The Cross
Cultural Conflict Resolution meeting creates the conditions for
people to truly communicate - to speak and to listen to each other.
Participants then move on to do creative problem solving together.
Finding the solution to conflict is really about creative problem
solving. Once a solution is agreed upon, agreements are signed
that include contingency plans.
Cross
Cultural Conflict Resolution Facilitation Training Workshops
