Develop a deeper understanding of how conflict unfolds

- We've already seen that conflict is an inevitable part of life. Why do we have conflict? And what affects how it unfolds? In this video we will look at the dynamics of conflict, which will help you be more prepared to address it in the future. Our first step is to see what causes conflict. The word conflict originates from a Latin word which means to strike together. It might be different ideas, values, or strategies striking against one another. One element that causes conflict is our differences with others. It takes more, though. If you like red and I like blue, it doesn't mean we're automatically in a conflict. Our differences have to be about something we care about. Something that concerns us. In that case, our differences can spark a conflict. It can also arise when we have expectations about how someone else should act in a particular situation. If they don't meet up to our expectations, conflict can occur. One reason conflict is inevitable is that we naturally have differences with other people. Different personalities, different styles of doing things, and different values about the right way to conduct ourselves. In the workplace, people will interpret data in different ways, will have different resource requirements to achieve their goals, and different ways of interacting with their colleagues. As long as there are two people, there will be differences that can cause conflicts. While these differences are at the heart of conflict, these differences can be managed in a variety of ways. To do this you need to be able to manage your emotions and choose to use constructive behaviors. People often get angry or scared in conflicts, and these emotions can drive them to use destructive behaviors, to avoid or lash out at other people. Which, in turn, causes them to react with their own destructive responses. In these cases, conflict spirals upward and results in poor outcomes and damaged relationships. So the first step is being able to cool down and manage your emotions. Once you gain composure, you'll be able to consciously use constructive behaviors to uncover how both you and the other person are viewing the conflict, and what you want out of it. Once you understand this you can use additional constructive behaviors to come up with possible solutions that meet your needs and theirs. Conflict is a natural part of our lives. It stems from difference we have with others about things that are important to us. Depending on how we respond, we can either make things worse or help resolve issues effectively. Understanding the dynamics of conflict can help you deal with it more confidently and achieve better results.