Resolving Conflict

Resolving Conflict

I can remember a disagreement I had in a management meeting about the who is qualified to care for young children when their parent (s) were attending a training or workshop.  One of my colleagues’s stated that we could have high school students that volunteer in our program to care for the children, but as I shared according to Division of Child Development the persons’ have pass a TB skin test and approved through the division of child development. I think we were passionate about our opinions and the discussion became loud and out of order.  I think this approach of communication resulted in not addressing the initial concern and we both let the meeting feeling anger towards one another.

This situation was an example of inappropriately addressed conflict. Both of us had a concern and felt our resolutions were the right one. As early childhood educators we know the rules to follow when we are taking care of the children enrolled in our program. But my colleague felt the issue of caring for children not enrolled did not have to follow the same rules.

I took the time to reflect on what happen in this situation and how I could have handled the way I shared the rules of monitoring children. I noticed my colleague was frustrated about the issue and speaking before she had the opportunity to express her emotions was not the best choice. So to keep situation like this from occurring again I plan to implement some of the principles of nonviolent communication I have learned this week.

I know the communication between us about this situation should have been addressed using the NVC approach. In this week’s lesson we have learned different strategies to express our opinion in an effective nonviolent manner. I think the “Thirdside” strategy approach of learning to listen at the total concern before giving my opinion and advice. I wanted us to be able to collaborate to establish a solution that will ensure our program is following the required rules.  

The other strategy I think would help with better communication would be the 3 R’s theory of respecting and acknowledge my colleague’s opinion and responding in a less closed minded manner will lead to a mutual respect and empower our professional working relationship.