A Community Living or Sectional Title Scheme without conflict does not exist
Unless there’s a crisis, the vast majority of disputes fly under the radar.
In a Sectional Title environment, this translates into wasted time, overlooked opportunities, degraded decision quality, sabotage, vandalism, restructuring, health costs and more.
“…otherwise savvy professionals self-destruct because they wouldn’t engage out of a fear of conflict? …conflict rarely resolves itself – in fact, conflict normally escalates if not dealt with proactively and properly.”
Forbes Magazine 2012
It’s the normal, ‘everyday’ disputes that can be so destructive. They’re the ones that we don’t see happening. They’re the ones that we can’t even plan for!
Most of us have never been taught to deal with conflict effectively. Mismanaged, avoided, or hidden conflict can be devastating.
The key to conflict competency in the first instance is that conflict be dealt with directly by the people involved. Besides being the cheapest method, it is vastly more effective.
With proper training and within the right environment, people will collaborate to invent solutions that satisfy their interests and needs – a far better outcome than solutions imposed by a third party.
When people have the skills to confront problems and the prospects of improved situations, they will gradually stop sweeping things under the rug: it is simply a matter of learning how to have a productive conversation after suffering anger, hurt, or humiliation.
The process can be learned and is built around:
- A discussion about a discussion – Approaching the other party, the request, the proposed ground rules, and the place and time
- The discussion – Establishing the tone, agreeing on the disagreement/s, venting, talking, listening, and exploring Solutions together
- The Agreement – Planning for implementation, contingencies, etc.
A conversation is a dialogue, not a monologue. That’s why there are so few good conversations: due to scarcity, two intelligent talkers seldom meet
~ Truman Capote.