Conflict Resolution

“Conflict itself is not a destructive force, but conflict left unaddressed is. Unaddressed conflicts create mistrust, suspicion, dishonesty, defensiveness, conspiracy, and barriers.” (Roth p. 36) Conflict can be perceived as negative or positive. Viewing conflict as negative can produce inappropriate behavior or destroy the morale or pursuit of the team’s mission, and the negativity can divert energy from important team activities and issues that require energy to resolve. When conflict is viewed as positive, it opens up discussion topics resulting in clarification. When teams are able to work through their conflict, it builds cohesiveness among team members and allows members to develop their conflict resolution skills. Among any team of more than one person, regardless of whether the conflict is viewed as positive or negative, conflict is inevitable. Understanding what causes conflict and how to resolve conflict is vital to the success of each individual in the team.
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