Conflict Resolution

Rock, paper, scissors

                The game, rock-paper-scissors is probably not the best way of solving conflict.  I guess you could throw the rock, stab with the scissors or give someone a paper cut but nothing good would come of that.

                This blog is about conflict resolution.  The assignment asks me to answer the following questions:

• What was the conflict?
• What role did you play?
• Who were the other participants in the negotiation?
• What was the result?

Can you see any room for improvement to how the conflict was handled?

                I have encountered many conflicts during my 27-year Army career.  I’m not just speaking of armed conflict but also of arguments and squabbles.  One such squabble comes to mind.

                I was a squad leader in unit at Fort Lewis, WA in the mid-1980s.  Two of my Soldiers were in a heated argument about guard duty.  Both wanted to be on first shift and were about to go to blows over the whole thing just as I stepped in.

                Being a Noncommissioned Officer, they had to follow my direction.  However, I took some time and sat the two Soldiers down.  I asked each one why they wanted the first shift of guard duty.  The first individual informed me that he had a date and needed the first shift so that he could be on time for his date.  The second Soldier stated that he needed first shift so that he could go fishing.  I asked the two which situation seemed the most important?  Of course, they both stated that their individual situation was most important.  So, I had them each right down the PROs and CONs of their particular situation.  Once they had completed this task, we compared and contracted their answers.  The Soldier that wanted to go fishing came to the conclusion that the Soldier who wanted to go on a date had the more important situation.  After all, he could go fishing anytime.  However, there was a caveat that came with their decision.  The Soldier who was giving up on first shift required that the other Soldier pull his next duty when it occurred.  They both agreed to this and the conflict was over.

                I believe I handled the situation quite well as a young Soldier.  Looking back, I may have done a few things differently but would have used the same tools at my disposal.