One way to increase one's objectivity is to use authentic listening with other team members, which may give each individual team member the best opportunity to understand other's points-of-view. Authentic listening involves: closing your mouth, not predicting or judging the outcome of a conversation before entering it, keeping open body language, asking questions when information is unclear, trying to put oneself in the other's position, listening to what is not being said, listening to how something is said, reacting to ideas rather than to the speaker, and being consistent throughout communications (ConflictResolution.com, 2009). When people actually take the time to actively listen to what the other person is saying, they have a better chance of seeing alternate solutions to the problem. Even when a team sees that there are multiple alternative solutions to a problem, the reality is that choosing one solution often makes some team members feel as if they have somehow lost something. Therefore, the third skill to be used in conflict resolution is the creation of a win-win environment. With a win-win power dynamic, the goal is to figure out how all parties involved can get what they want (Bluestein, 2008). For students working within a team, this means that no single team member should have the power or authority to make final decisions within the group. Instead, group decisions should be the result of a consensus. Furthermore, if there is a member or members whose input is consistently at odds with the majority opinion, the group needs to make an effort to allow that team member to have input on the goal and direction of the team project. In a more authoritarian relationship, the establishing of a win-win power dynamic can prevent rebellious behavior (Bluestein, 2008). While it may not be labeled the same way,...

Oftentimes a group member's failure to adequately perform his or her portion of a team assignment may be a way of asserting power in a situation where he or she feels deprived of power. Establishing a win-win relationship can help restore self-confidence and make all team member feel critical to the success of the group.
Well-developed conflict resolution skills are an important component of success in all areas and all stages of life. When dealing with humans, there is always the risk that conflict will occur, and failing to deal with conflict in an appropriate manner can transform an uncomfortable scenario into an impossible one. For students, conflict resolution is especially important, because students are often asked to work in team environments. Establishing clear expectations about each team member's role in the group, engaging in authentic listening when a conflict does occur, and creating a win-win scenario are three key ways that group members can manage conflict.