3. Interpersonal Conflict: Differing Perspectives

The aim of this section is to consider the role that entrenched positions play in conflict.

We present two stories in this section. The first involves two healthcare professionals who disagree about an approach to take with their patient. The second involves a father and son. There are two versions of each interaction, the first illustrating their entrenched ideas and the second showing how each party moved beyond their positions to see the other person’s perspective.

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As our host commented, “When we focus on interests, there is an opportunity to express our deeper concerns. This can lead to shared perspectives, setting the stage for joint problem solving and conflict resolution. We may discover that we are not as far apart as we thought. When we begin to understand why others want what they want there is an opportunity to generate solutions that benefit both parties.”