Find a Common Goal
When in conflict, it sometimes seems you’re at loggerheads with the other person and a “meeting of the minds” is impossible. By reminding yourself–and your colleague–that you are ultimately working toward the same end, you can put yourself on the same side rather than working against each other. This can open the doors to cooperation, allowing you to reach a solution that you might otherwise have overlooked.
Let’s say you were caught off-guard when, at the staff meeting, your co-worker vehemently opposed a new marketing plan you thought would gain unanimous support. By taking the time to question him about his objections, you discover your proposed plan would pull valuable resources away from a marketing program he’s about to implement.
Once you both recognize that you’re aiming for the same goal–i.e., increased publicity and higher sales–then you can envision how to work together to make both plans work, possibly by pooling resources, scaling back portions of your programs, or delaying the start date.