7 Strategies for Conflict Management During Recruitment

Recruitment can be a stressful situation for everyone involved.  Long hours and approaching deadlines can sometimes produce tense situations.  However,  utilizing the following seven strategies for conflict management can prevent unwanted stress and negative energy:

1.  Give yourself time to calm down before approaching conflict.  If you do not take time to cool down, you are more likely to say and do things that you will regret later.  Several relationships experience conflict damage from snap decisions.

2.  Once you have given yourself time, choose your best method of communication but talk about it.  Though face-to-face interaction is a more direct method, E-mail or a phone call can serve the same purpose if you have a problem controlling your temper.  Use previous experience to determine the best method.  It might also be wise to explain to the other party involved why you chose that method of communication.

As a side note, using Facebook or other social networking sites to vent is probably not the best way to cool off.  These sites are public, at least to your friends, so airing out on these sites can lead to even more conflict.

3. Tone can completely change the intention of what you say in a conversation.  Keep a tone that implies you are seeking information versus accusing the other person of doing something wrong.

4.  Using tact means avoiding phrases, sentences, and even entire conversations that are offensive and/or demeaning.

Example:           

• Not using tact – “Okay, so I hate to say this, but you are really hurting the group.  Like seriously, GET IT TOGETHER!”

• Using tact – “I’ve noticed that you seem distant, and I think it may be affecting your performance.  Would you like to talk about this issue?

5.  Pretending that an issue does not exist could potentially cause a problem to grow.  Instead, being truthful will create an atmosphere of respect and trust.

6.  Give and take can help prevent conflict.  On the other hand, always giving in can lead to negative results.  If an issue is important to you, let the other person know and then work to meet somewhere in the middle.

7.  In general, learning to tolerate the differences in each other will foster teamwork and cooperation.  Different beliefs, backgrounds, and interests make your chapter unique and are an essential part of your identity.  So embrace them!

Kristin Studle is a senior at Western Kentucky University where she is majoring in Interactive Advertising and minoring in Sociology.  She is also a proud member of Alpha Gamma Delta Fraternity, and she admits that she bleeds red, buff, and green.  In the little spare time that she has, Kristin likes to watch musicals, read, and try to make a positive impact on the world around her.