Implementation – Managing Conflict

20.5 Conflict resolution techniques and skills

Resolving conflict requires certain techniques and skills, thus it could be advisable to equip the PPP management team with such skills as a part of the capacity development scheme. After all, these are the skills that can help to manage other projects and even everyday life.

A conflict resolution technique is a co-operative, integrative problem-solving approach that helps identify the underlying issue(s). As such, the technique:

• helps understand the main objective of the conflict;
• sets boundaries;
• achieves a resolution that meets each person's or each group’s needs as much as possible;
• builds trust; and
• improves how groups to work together.

It is important that managers do something because whether they like it or not, conflicts demand energy. In fact, an unresolved conflict can call on tremendous amounts of attention. Managers all know how exhausting an unresolved conflict can be. It is not always easy to fix the problem, but a great energy boost can come about when they do.