Managing conflict and negotiating in organizational settings

¶ … Managing Conflict and Negotiating in the Workplace

Conflict occurs when two people desire the same thing -- and wish to achieve that objective, quite often, in very different ways. You wish to have a promotion. Your colleague desires the same office. You wish to leave the office at six, your boss wishes you to work longer hours. So should you simply keep your nose to the grindstone and hope your merit and your desires are recognized? While ignoring office conflicts, and attempting to simply do one's work may not "land you a dagger in the back or a bullet in the head," it can be an act of career suicide. (Marshall, 2005) "The ability to negotiate and leverage power can make a measurable difference in navigating choppy business waters, achieving positive results and advancing your career," as power must be leveraged and negotiated to resolve conflicts in a positive and managed fashion. (Marshall, 2005)

Conflict must be mediated and managed, either between the participants or an outside, objective authority when no informal agreement is possible. Negotiation and concession is key to managing conflict in a positive fashion. Negotiation means a compromised settlement, where one party gives up one aspect of his or her needs or desires in exchange for the other party doing similarly. To be a good negotiator, one must not forget one's own interests nor must one act aggressively in a one-sided manner, putting the organization's interests aside to such an extent one makes a poor impression as a team player.