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Navigate the conflict resolution highway

  • Published
  • By Catherine McClean
  • 87th Air Base Wing Equal Opportunity Office
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Imagine you are about to embark on a journey from a point of conflict to a place called resolution. As it is with any journey, there are steps to be taken to prepare.

First, you must perform a diagnostic test of the vehicle you are going to use throughout your journey - this will ensure it is in sound operating condition. On the road to resolution, that vehicle is YOU! Therefore, it is necessary you conduct a self-assessment to see if there are personal issues or pre-existing conditions - physical, mental, emotional or medical - that might impair your judgment or perception regarding a conflict. These pre-existing conditions could impede your ability to successfully reach your destination.

Next, you might desire a map outlining the route you will take. You might consider the shortest and most direct route, the most cost-effective route and the route that would allow you to arrive at your destination with the least amount of wear and tear.

The most direct route to resolve a work-related conflict is your chain of command.

However, occasionally, you may encounter detours, barriers or roadblocks requiring you to take another route.

If you cannot resolve a conflict at its earliest stage and the lowest possible level, there are other avenues to address your concerns. This includes the commander's action line via the base feedback network; alternative dispute resolution via your base ADR program manager, local bargaining unions via the negotiated grievance procedure; civilian personnel or human resources offices via the administrative grievance procedure; equal opportunity/equal employment opportunity via the civilian/military complaint processes; or the inspector general, when no other means of redress or appeal already exists.

Finally, as with any road trip, you may also want to consider which routes provide accommodations or pit stops should you require information, assistance, support or solace. If you need assistance when navigating the highway toward conflict resolution, you might consider contacting your Life Skills Support Center, Warfighter and Family Readiness Center or Family Advocacy. Other services available to the joint base community include the Army Community Services, Health and Wellness Center, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, Area Defense Council and Chapel Services - all of whose missions include developing solutions for challenges one may face. These organizations are there to improve the health, welfare and readiness of our personnel and their families.

Once the proper steps have been taken to prepare you for your journey, you are well on your way to successfully arriving at satisfactory conflict resolution. When unpredictable things occur which they often do, remember conflict, like stress, can be an unavoidable fact of life. However, I believe Charles Swindoll said it best when he said "Life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it."