Caring for people should precede confronting people.
Conflict is like cancer: Early detection increases the possibility of a healthy outcome. While intellectually it’s simple to resolve conflict, emotionally it can be difficult.
It requires honesty, humility and dedication to the relationship. Take these steps when confronting someone:
● Confront a person only if you care about that person. It is more productive to go into a confrontation keeping the other person’s interests in mind.
● Meet together as soon as possible. Putting off confrontation only causes the situation to fester.
● First seek understanding, not necessarily agreement. The person who gives an opinion before he or she understands is human, but the person who gives a
judgment before he or she understands is a fool.
● Outline the issue. Be positive, describe your perceptions, state how this situation makes you feel, and explain why this is important to you.
● Encourage a response.
● Agree to an action plan that clearly identifies the issue and spells out concrete steps that will be taken.
The action plan should include a commitment by both parties to put the issue to rest once resolved.
Remember life is not a rehearsal and it is short for many of us, believe it or not. We may not have a second chance.
Building Healthy Relationships
The Confrontation Principle
Caring for people should precede confronting people.
Conflict is like cancer: Early detection increases the possibility of a healthy outcome. While intellectually it’s simple to resolve conflict, emotionally it can be difficult.
It requires honesty, humility and dedication to the relationship. Take these steps when confronting someone:
● Confront a person only if you care about that person. It is more productive to go into a confrontation keeping the other person’s interests in mind.
● Meet together as soon as possible. Putting off confrontation only causes the situation to fester.
● First seek understanding, not necessarily agreement. The person who gives an opinion before he or she understands is human, but the person who gives a
judgment before he or she understands is a fool.
● Outline the issue. Be positive, describe your perceptions, state how this situation makes you feel, and explain why this is important to you.
● Encourage a response.
● Agree to an action plan that clearly identifies the issue and spells out concrete steps that will be taken.
The action plan should include a commitment by both parties to put the issue to rest once resolved.
Remember life is not a rehearsal and it is short for many of us, believe it or not. We may not have a second chance.