There are 5 stages of conflict, in the order of light to severe:
A problem to solve: a problem occurs or is presented.
- Disagreement: Everyone tries to protect their own interests.
- Contest: people begin taking sides (a You- vs. -Me, Us- vs. -Them situation).
- Crusade: People in conflict will make overgeneralizations in judgement, not just about the problem but also about the person.
- WorldWar II: The problem is now unresolvable; either side will survive or the other will not.
It is advisable to try to resolve conflicts early in the stage to reach a consensus with effective conflict resolution strategies: - Confronting: open dialogue (everyone can voice their opinions) leading to problem resolution to create a win-win situation.
Collaboration: working together to reach a mutually agreed solution. - Smooth/accommodate: conceding one's position to the needs of others.
- Force/Direct: push viewpoints at the expense of others. Use of power positions to resolve emergencies.
- Withdraw or avoid postponing issues to be resolved later or by others.
