Question
What is transformative conflict resolution?
Answer
Transformative conflict resolution suggests that problematic conflicts are essentially a crisis in interaction. If people learn to interact more effectively they would deal with the conflict more effectively whereas an interest based approach to conflict resolution focus on helping people develop a win-win solution.
Transformation focuses on the processes, emotions, and relationships between the people involved in the conflict. Transformation suggests that we should change the way that people interact as they deal with the conflict.
By transforming the process they may reach a solution or agreement or they may not. The success of transformative conflict resolution is not determined by whether there is an agreement but whether the processes, emotions, and relationships are enhanced. The outcome is secondary. Transformative conflict resolution not only helps people resolve their immediate conflict, it also has the power to transform society.
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the webinar, A Transformative Approach to Managing Ethics Conflicts with Clients and Colleagues, presented by Allan Barsky, JD, MSW, Phd.
