Conflict is most likely to take place after an attempt has been made to resolve an issue through communication. According to At its most basic level, communication is about the exchange of information between individuals. That information is then used to make decisions that will affect the present and the future of the people involved in communicating those ideas (Schneider, Gruman, & Coutts, 2013).
When two people get into a physical fight, it is common to see an exchange of words first before any blows are thrown. “conflicts cannot be reduced to the acts of individuals. Rather they are composed of interaction among the parties: moves, responses, and countermoves.” (Joseph Folger, Marshall Scott Poole, and Randall K. Stutman 2012)
Good communication comes as the result of knowing and understanding who you are talking to. Depending who you ask, irony and sarcasm are not a regular thing in Japanese culture. If you are to engage in a sensitive conversation with someone who grew up around Japanese culture that would be something good to know beforehand, otherwise you might come off as being offensive or vague in your attempt to communicate something serious.
Approaching a conversation with bias can also lead to the escalation of the conflict. Recognizing that the world is a diverse place filled with different ideas and beliefs may help you realize that the definition of right and wrong vary based on where you are or who you are around. Conflicts can be avoided by simply taking steps to understand many cultural differences like the few stated above.
References
(Schneider, Gruman, & Coutts, 2013, p . 126) Schneider, F. W., Gruman, J. A., & Coutts, L. M. (2013). Applied social psychology: Understanding and addressing social and practical problems. Los Angeles: Sage.
Folger, J. P., Poole, M. S., & Stutman, R. K. (2009). Working through conflict: Strategies for relationships, groups, and organizations. Boston: Pearson Education.
Hello,
I liked that you highlighted that good communication comes as the result of knowing and understanding who you are talking to. “The exchange of information between individuals. That information is then used to make decisions that will affect the present and the future of the people involved in communicating those ideas.” (PSU, L.4, p. 1) The way we communicate with others can affect the way those other people see us, can make an impact on forwarding movement in a career or influence the choices others will make. It is also important to show them that you understand them and are taking into consideration what they are telling you.
“Listening is at the heart of all successful communication.” (Moran, p. 39) When you listen you are intentionally being present. You are paying attention to what is being said, processing it and understanding the information that is given. In possessing the ability to show someone that you understand what they are saying, allows the other party to correct any misinterpretations or reiterate any missed information. Additionally, the more you listen the more you get to know that individual better.
Reference:
Moran, R. T., Abramson, N. R., & Moran, S. V. (2014). Managing cultural differences (9th ed.). Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
Pennsylvania State University (2019). Leadership in a Global Context – OLEAD410. Lesson 04: Global Communication, Penn State World Campus, The Pennsylvania State University. Retrieved September 22, 2019, from https://psu.instructure.com/courses/2008449/modules/items/27026949
Hey Chanine,
Thank you for taking time to read and respond to my debut blog post. Yes I have been in an uncomfortable situation as a result of not knowing about the other person’s culture beforehand. Infact, it was a Japanese acquaintance that I met in college. He was a student who came to the United States to learn English. During a short conversation I had with him I had sarcastically said something that implied that i would meet him some where later in the evening. I had no idea that he thought i was being serious word for word and actually went to the location later in the evening. After I failed to show up, he addressed his disappointment with me on the next day and another Japanese friend of mine who had been in the US much longer explained to me that sarcasm is not as popula in thier culture especially from the region my friend originally came from. I was glad that I learned about this and It taught me to always be aware and neutral to people from cultures that I did not know enough about.
Why is it that many people don’t know where to turn in the face of conflict? It may be that we don’t often see conflict handled well, or conflict occurs when we least expect it, or we may be lucky enough that conflict simply doesn’t happen often within our group. Communication can be both destructive or constructive to conflict. The next passage focuses on destructive and constructive communication in the face of conflict.
In order to explore the role of communication in conflict, it’s important to explore the driving forces behind conflict. Wikipedia defines the process of conflict as a clash of interests (Conflict, n.d.). Northouse defines conflict as a felt struggle between two or more interdependent individuals over perceived incompatible differences in beliefs, values, and goals or over differences in desires for esteem, control or connectedness (Northouse, 2018, p. 240). Specifically within a group, harmony is first interrupted by an initial conflict such as a difference of opinion, disagreements between members, or scarcity of resources. At this point, the group is no longer united, and out-groups may form within a group or organization.
Conflict can be better managed by staying calm and observing, listening and clarifying to determine the needs of an individual or group, exercising empathy and responsiveness, finding common ground, focusing on facts, tasks and priorities rather than emotions, setting boundaries and rules, implement fractionation [the process of breaking down large conflicts into smaller manageable pieces (Northouse, 2018, p. 256)], and continue to communicate (Ash, 2015).
Destructive communication can turn minor issues into major conflicts. Several examples of destructive communication are listed below:
*Blame – trying to pinpoint fault
*Interruption – suggests one person’s idea is more important than another
*Character assassination – name calling, bullying, sarcasm
*Involving outsiders – involving others in your disagreement; face-saving
*Withdrawal – avoiding conversations or showing indifference
*Arrogance – the need to be right all the time
Constructive communication helps you resolve conflict in a positive manner by utilizing some of the following strategies:
*“I” statements – allow you to identify a problem and communicate how the problem is affecting you in a non-accusatory manner.
*Avoid non-verbal cues; be sure that your body language is sending a consistent message with your words.
*Timing – select an appropriate time to communicate
*Reflective listening – the listener re-states what they think is being communicated
*Showing respect and consideration for another’s point of view
*Anger avoidance – give yourself space to calm down and implement components of emotional intelligence.
During a period of conflict escalation, the choice to react with destructive versus constructive communication skills in all cases will result in an outcome with either an impasse or a beginning conflict resolution stage. Having knowledge of cultural norms and being skilled in constructive communication will enhance your ability to minimize the conflict and differences between groups.
References
Ash, Eve. (2015, October 26). Eight ways to defuse and resolve conflict. Smart Company. Retrieved from https://www.smartcompany.com.au/people-human-resources/eight-ways-to-resolve-and-manage-conflict/
Conflict (process). (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflict_(process)
Dontigney, Eric. (n.d). Elements of constructive communication. Chron. Retrieved from https://smallbusiness.chron.com/elements-constructive-communication-57362.html
Moran, R.T., Abramson, N. R. & Moran, S.V. (2014). Managing cultural differences. (9th ed.). Abingdon: Routledge.
Northouse P.G. (2018). Introduction to leadership: Concepts and practice (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Hello, I agree with you that proper communication is key to either avoid conflict, or to help reach integration and come up with a solution. I think when both people in the conflict do not do well with communicating, it will more likely end in conflict and adds stress to the situation. I found your example of Japanese culture to be interesting. I agree that it is important to understand these cultures due to the risk of conflict being higher. As you stated, having an understanding of diversity and different cultures can help to avoid conflicts. Have you ever been in between a situation like this where someone from a different culture was offended?