dealing with conflict in a community setting prepared by david duff and christina pretty november...
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Dealing with Conflict in a Community Setting
Prepared by David Duff and Christina PrettyNovember 2011
Outline
•What is Conflict?•Conflict in a Community Setting•Resolving Community Conflict•Conflict Resolution Organizations
What is Conflict?
•Conflict is any struggle between opposing forces
•May result from differences in needs, ideas, beliefs, values, or feelings between the two parties
•Can easily escalate•Creates tension•Can be positive or negative
Positive and Negative ConflictPositive Conflict Negative Conflict
• Can be channelled into finding positive solutions that meet people’s needs
• Creative▫ Motivates teams to look
at a problem that may have been otherwise overlooked
• New ideas for old problems• Increased interest and
renewed energy to fix a particular problem
• Does not contribute to building cohesion and trust
• Does not move towards finding consensus solutions
• Reduces efficiency• Leads to negative feelings
between parties• Causes disruptions• Diverts team energy to a
destructive path
Distinguishing Positive from Negative Conflict
• If you answered YES to any of the above questions, you have Negative Conflict
• If you answered NO to all of the above questions, you are likely to have Positive Conflict
Source: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/pdf/884762.pdf
Conflict in a Community Setting•Communities are often faced with
conflicts•Conflicts may result from
▫sharing of water resources, waste disposal, zoning rights, etc.
▫proposed changes tohistorical, cultural, or economic aspects of the community
Image source: http://north-west-news.whereilive.com.au/news/story/mitchelton-residents-protest-neighbourhood-plan/
Conflict is inevitable, but combat is optional.
- Max Lucado
Source: http://resolveyourdispute.co.uk/conflict-is-inevitable-but-combat-is-optional/
Managing Community Conflict
•Acknowledge that the conflict does exist•Use effective communication between the
affected parties•Negotiation•Predict future conflicts
Acknowledge that the Conflict Does Exist•Often, parties are in denial that a problem
exists•Leaving the issue unacknowledged may
cause the problem to grow with devastating consequences
•The earlier the conflict is acknowledged, the earlier steps can be taken to resolve it
Effective Communication
•Maintain contact with the persons involved throughout the entire process of resolving the conflict▫Gives the
individuals and groups a sense of importance within the issue
Image sources: http://www.catalystpaper.com/media/gallery/corporate-images/powell-river-community-meeting &http://www.hnhblhin.on.ca/Newsletter.aspx?id=92
Effective Communication
•Provide accurate information to the community▫Through school administrators, church
leaders, popular clubs within the community, etc.
•Do not place all of the blame on the other party
•Be polite•Actively listen to concerns and feedback
Activity – Are you really listening?•The person at one end of the
table says a word. The person sitting next to them must then say a different word that begins with the previous word’s last letter. It continues around the table.
•Example: bat – that – tin – nail
Image source: http://activerain.com/blogsview/891628/ahhhhh-to-get-a-word-in-edgewise-how-not-listening-is-a-deterrent-in-real-estate-and-life-
Negotiation
•Hold public meetings to specifically discuss problem issues▫Where individuals and groups can voice
their opinions and concerns•Seek help from local organizations
specializing in community conflict resolution▫Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution
•Use mediators and facilitators
Mediation•A problem-solving process•Those in conflict meet with a
neutral third-party (the mediator) in a safe setting to discuss and resolve their differences
•Mediators do not take sides, give advice, make suggestions, or impose settlements.▫They ask clarifying questions,
reflect feelings, and identify needsSource: http://www.mediation-works.org/pg16.cfm
Predicting Future Conflicts
•Learn from previous community conflicts▫Gather information through community
questionnaires, surveys, etc.•The ability to understand past conflicts
helps communities to develop new strategies for preventing, managing, and intervening in future conflicts
Predicting Future ConflictsQuestions to ask to help predict conflict:
• Are natural resources a factor that may cause conflict in your community?
• Are there any religious or ethnic factors that may cause conflict in the future?
• Does the government/municipality represent the people’s ideas and needs? Encourage debate and discussion of ideas within the community?
• Have there been any economic shocks or financial crises within the community?
Conflict Resolution Organizations•Mediation and Restorative Justice Centre
(Alberta)•Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution
Image Sources: http://www.mrjc.ca & http://www.cicr-icrc.ca
The Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution (CICR)•Peace-making process•Enables community groups and
organizations to become their own “conflict resolvers”▫Facilitates processes and community
dialogues to develop local solutions to local conflicts
▫Offers community-level training in conflict resolution
•Uses Community Based Conflict Resolution
Community Based Conflict Resolution (CBCR)
The processes of CBCR should:•Foster dignity and respect•Be positively centered•Be inclusive and barrier-free•Be vision-based•Be timely and sustainable•Recognize the complexity of conflict
Source: http://www.cicr-icrc.ca/media/Microsoft%20Word%20-%20CBCR%20definition01.pdf
Resources• Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution (http://www.cicr-icrc.ca/pages/intro.php)• Community Conflict: A Resource Pack (
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/communityconflict)• Conflict Resolution: Acknowledge the conflict exists
(http://www.entrepreneurialwoman.ca/2011/09/14/conflict-resolution-acknowledge-the-conflict-exists)
• Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Community Capacity Building http://www.ibrd.gov.nl.ca/regionaldev/capacitybuilding.html
• Listening Games and Activities (http://www.articlesforeducators.com/dir/language_arts/listening_skills/listening_games.asp)
• Mediation and Restorative Justice Centre (http://mrjc.ca/)• Mediation Works (http://www.mediation-works.org)• Newfoundland and Labrador Regional Economic Development Association
(NLREDA). Resource Materials• http://www.nlreda.ca/content.php?cid=40&nav=71 • Resolve Your Dispute (http://resolveyourdispute.co.uk/conflict-is-inevitable-but-
combat-is-optional/)• Workplace Conflict: An Inevitable Fact of Life
(http://www.mediate.com/articles/workedit2.cfm)
Thank you!
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