As much as the ideal situation is to have community members living peacefully without ever engaging in any form of argument or fight, it might not always be the case. The reality is that as long as people are living close to one another and are always interacting with others, there will be cases of conflict. If the disputes are not resolved, they might escalate to more serious things. To resolve conflicts within the community, the steps that should be taken include the following.
Acknowledge There is Conflict
The mistake that most people who lead a community always make is to wish away conflict and imagine that it will disappear if they don’t talk about it. This only opens up space for grudges. The first step of conflict resolution is to accept that there is a problem. It does not have to be significant. Even something as small as someone not putting a leash on their dog can start some form of conflict.
Open Communication Channels
Reach out to the conflicting bodies and have a talk. If it is a few members of the community, you can have a small meeting and talk about the things that are causing the conflict. Create the right mood for communication. Having tea from beautiful teapots is an interesting way of lightening the atmosphere so that people can express themselves fully.
Avoid Taking Sides
The essence of conflict resolution is to come up with a solution that thaws out the tension between the conflicting parties. This means that you should not look as though you are taking sides. Acknowledge everyone’s feelings and involve them in making decisions that will make it easier for them to coexist in the community.