PEORIA MAGAZINE November 2022

person know that you’re listening and trying to understand his/her perspective. 3. Avoid making assumptions Don’t assume that you know the other person's thoughts or feelings. Instead, ask them directly. This will help to avoidmiscommunication and misunderstandings. Often times, people develop their own perspective and it has nothing to do with the other party. 4. Be willing to compromise In many cases, conf licts can be resolved through compromise, with both parties walking away feeling like there was a fair resolution to the matter. But this is easier said than done. Compromise requires give and-take from both sides. It’s often worth it if it avoids a long-lasting disagreement. 5. Seek professional help if necessary If you’ve tried to resolve conf lict without success, seeking professional help may be worthwhile. A mediator

or counselor can assist you in communicatingwith the other person and finding a resolution that works for both of you. If youwork in a corporate environment and you feel that the conflict impacts your ability to work, you should seek help from Human Resources to address the issue. 6. Keep the lines of communication open This will help to prevent future disagreements from escalating into full-blown arguments. 7. Be prepared to apologize If you were the one who caused the conflict, apologize. A sincere apology can go a long way towards repairing a damaged relationship. 8. Avoid making personal attacks This includes name-calling, insults and other forms of verbal abuse. This type of behavior is very unproductive. 9. Take a break if necessary This will give you both time to cool down and collect your thoughts.

Instead of reacting emotionally, it’s better to give yourself time to calm down so that you can continue the discussion rationally. 10. Be willing to forgive and move on Holding onto anger and resentment will only damage your relationships andmake it difficult to resolve future disagreements. Additionally, failing to forgive and leave it behind you can create a toxic work environment. By following these tips, you can resolve conf lict constructively and positively.

Dee Brown is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, philanthropist and host of the WTVP program “Self-Made with Dee Brown CEO.” A member of the Forbes Business Council, he is president and CEO of The P3 Group Inc. in Memphis, the nation’s largest minority owned development and construction firm

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