1 Understand your stakeholders

The first step to avoid conflict is to understand who your stakeholders are, what their interests, needs, expectations, and perspectives are, and how they relate to your goals and objectives. You can use various tools and methods to identify and analyze your stakeholders, such as stakeholder mapping, power-interest matrix, or SWOT analysis. By understanding your stakeholders, you can anticipate potential sources of conflict, communicate more effectively, and build trust and rapport.

2 Align your goals and expectations

The second step to avoid conflict is to align your goals and expectations with your stakeholders. This means clarifying what you want to achieve, how you will measure success, what roles and responsibilities each party has, and what resources and support are needed. You can use various tools and methods to align your goals and expectations, such as SMART objectives, project charter, or contract. By aligning your goals and expectations, you can reduce ambiguity, confusion, and frustration, and increase accountability and commitment.

3 Communicate proactively and respectfully

The third step to avoid conflict is to communicate proactively and respectfully with your stakeholders. This means sharing information, feedback, and updates regularly, listening actively and empathically, acknowledging different viewpoints and emotions, and using positive and constructive language. You can use various tools and methods to communicate proactively and respectfully, such as email, phone, video call, or face-to-face meeting, depending on the situation and preference of your stakeholders. By communicating proactively and respectfully, you can prevent misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and resentment, and foster collaboration and cooperation.

4 Negotiate fairly and creatively

The fourth step to avoid conflict is to negotiate fairly and creatively with your stakeholders when there are disagreements or disputes. This means focusing on the interests and needs of both parties, rather than the positions or demands, exploring options and alternatives, rather than sticking to one solution, and finding common ground and mutual benefits, rather than competing or compromising. You can use various tools and methods to negotiate fairly and creatively, such as win-win strategy, BATNA, or brainstorming. By negotiating fairly and creatively, you can resolve conflict in a way that satisfies both parties and strengthens the relationship.

5 Manage emotions and stress

The fifth step to avoid conflict is to manage your own emotions and stress, as well as those of your stakeholders, when conflict occurs. This means recognizing and regulating your feelings, rather than reacting impulsively or defensively, expressing your emotions in a calm and respectful way, rather than blaming or attacking, and supporting your stakeholders in coping with their emotions and stress, rather than ignoring or dismissing them. You can use various tools and methods to manage emotions and stress, such as self-awareness, breathing exercises, or emotional intelligence. By managing emotions and stress, you can prevent conflict from escalating or damaging the relationship.

6 Learn from conflict

The sixth and final step to avoid conflict is to learn from conflict and use it as an opportunity to improve your skills, processes, and outcomes. This means reflecting on what caused the conflict, what worked and what didn't work in resolving it, and what can be done differently or better in the future. You can use various tools and methods to learn from conflict, such as feedback, debriefing, or action plan. By learning from conflict, you can avoid repeating the same mistakes, enhance your conflict management skills, and build a positive and productive relationship with your stakeholders.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?