More Art Than Strategy?

There are multiple paths to conflict resolution, but the foundation of it all is the same—deft management of the emotions at play.

- Sarah Berry

Professional and personal lives demand interaction with fellow humans, which underlines the need for interpersonal and intrapersonal relations, the vortex of which revolves around conflict management. We do not need to define the word ‘conflict’, as we have experienced it at some point in life, and perceive its cause, approach, and solution in different ways.

A conflict arises, essentially, due to differences—be it in any domain—and seeks dialogue as the main tool for effective resolution; dialogue that rests on the following fulcra: listening, understanding, and negotiations. As Arindam Upmanyu, a student of public policy, says, while recalling his professional journey: “Conflicts are often inevitable—regardless of the work ethic or the work culture of the organization. However, I feel that the simplest way to resolve the most complex conflicts is through dialogue— clear and effective communication is the key. Whenever I find myself in a situation that is leading to a conflict, I try to ‘break down walls’ over a cup of coffee. A good conversation not only brings out misunderstandings into the open but helps realize that the core of the conflict may have just been a mirage of a problem that didn’t even exist!”