Sometimes two (or more) people, groups, or ideas are simply incompatible. They are at odds, or in opposition to each other. For whatever reason, compromise, reconciliation, and agreement seem unattainable.
A conflict arises out of situations or belief systems which are incompatible and cannot coexist peacefully. Situations involving conflict can be resolved by:
- Competition. In nature that means survival of the fittest, in human conflict this could be politics or war.
- Collaboration: The parties find a third option that creates a win for each.
- Compromise. Each side gives in somewhat for the sake of peace
- Accommodation: One side gives in and the other side gets their way.
- Avoiding: The conflict is avoided or delayed.
Has conflict reared its ugly head in your life or work? How can you best approach the situation? Should you compete, collaborate, compromise, accommodate, or avoid?
See also: Mess, Gap, Fog, Balancing tradeoffs, Pain/Gain, Gauntlet.
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