M5 - Learner Manual

What negotiation and conflict have in common

The obvious common denominator between negotiation and conflict is that they both involve a relationship with at least one other person. Albeit the relationship may only be a short term one.

—    When you enter into a negotiation or find yourself in conflict with another person, the outcomes you and the other person desire appear to be diametrically opposed. Otherwise there would not be a conflict or need for serious negotiation.

—    The extent to which you have invested (time, money, emotion, ego, etc.) in the outcome of either situation may make it easier or harder to achieve what you want. It is unlikely to enter into a negotiation, or find yourself in conflict if you do not care about the outcome. In general, you already have an emotional, financial or other investment.

—    The difference between a conflict situation and entering a negotiation is that the tension levels are already high when in conflict and relationships may have already been damaged.

—    In either situation, it is common that both parties see themselves as ‘right’, and want to prove their ‘rightness’ to each other. In this sense every negotiation has potential for conflict.

—    If both parties maintain their position of ‘rightness’, there is little opportunity for resolution or for either party to achieve their desired outcomes. Relationships may be irretrievably damaged and neither party wins.[1]

 

Prompt resolution

 

Conflict should be dealt with as promptly as possible. Where possible, situations should be dealt with straight away. In a custodial setting, employees will usually need to act quickly to prevent a situation from escalating.

 

Dealing with conflict promptly is important for the following reasons:

 

—    If people are at risk of being harmed;

—    If the conflict is interfering with work;

—    To help get things back to normal quickly;

—    It prevents the conflict from continuing; and

—    It can save the organisation time and money.

 

The safety of staff and detainees is of paramount importance in custodial institutional settings. For this reason effective and efficient conflict negotiation is essential.