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.
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