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How to take the heat out of a confrontation
1. Quotable quote
"By bringing conflicts out into the open and overcoming them, we develop honest, forthright, and loving relationships with ourselves and others. We turn heat into light."
2. Here's an idea
During a confrontation, if you reach an impasse, consider calling in a third party, depending on the seriousness of the conflict:
- Experts are neutral third parties. Their responsibility is simple: to provide data, facts, and information that may help the involved parties improve their understanding of the objective issues in a dispute.
- Mediation is a process in which a third person helps the parties in conflict to collaborate. Mediators do this by listening, asking questions, and creating a supportive and constructive environment.
- Arbitration rulings may be binding or voluntary. You get an answer but since the involved parties don’t participate in the solution, they may be less committed to implementing it.
- Litigation is the process of going to court to get a ruling on an issue. The main benefit is that the solution is binding. Litigation, however, is a final solution, and it’s costly, time consuming, and creates a very competitive situation.
3. Don't forget
Advice for a confrontation:
If you’re caught in a confrontation, here’s how you can handle yourself more effectively:
- Never leave the problem simmering - the situation may only deteriorate over time. Schedule time to speak with the other party as soon as possible.
- Be clear about the issue. Sometimes it’s helpful to write down what you think is the problem. …
