Last updated on Jul 27, 2024

Support group members are at odds during a session. How do you navigate conflicting opinions effectively?

When you're part of a support group, the goal is to provide a safe space where members can share experiences and offer mutual aid. However, it's not uncommon for conflicts to arise when opinions differ. Navigating these conflicts effectively is crucial to maintaining the group's integrity and ensuring that each member feels heard and respected. The key is to approach each situation with empathy, active listening, and a commitment to finding common ground. By mastering the art of conflict resolution within a peer support context, you can help maintain a supportive environment that benefits all members.

1 Active Listening

Active listening is your first tool in handling conflicts within a support group. It involves fully concentrating on the speaker, understanding their message, and responding thoughtfully. By giving your full attention to each member's point of view without interruption, you create a respectful atmosphere. Acknowledge emotions and validate experiences, even when they differ. This approach helps to de-escalate tension and demonstrates that all opinions are valuable to the group's collective wisdom.

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Raquel Coscia

Gente e Gestão | DHO | Business Partner | Administração de Pessoas | Mentora de Carreira.
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Na minnha vivência a neutralidade, assume o papel de um mediador imparcial, evitando tomar partido ou expressar suas próprias opiniões. Sua função é facilitar o diálogo, não ditar o resultado. Já na escuta ativa, demonstro a atenção plena a cada membro, utilizando técnicas como contato visual, linguagem corporal receptiva e reformulação de falas para garantir que todos se sintam ouvidos e compreendidos.

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2 Empathy Exercise

Empathy is the heart of effective peer support. When members clash, encourage them to see the situation from the other person's perspective. This can be achieved through exercises that promote empathy, such as role reversal or sharing personal stories that relate to the conflict. By fostering an empathetic environment, members are more likely to find common ground and appreciate the diverse perspectives within the group.

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Raquel Coscia

Gente e Gestão | DHO | Business Partner | Administração de Pessoas | Mentora de Carreira.
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No exercício de empatia procuro reconhecer e validar os sentimentos de cada membro, mesmo que você discorde das suas opiniões. Frases como "Entendo que você está se sentindo..." e "Posso ver que isso é importante para você..." demonstram empatia e criam um ambiente seguro para a expressão da pessoa.

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Victor Hugo Olivares

Comunicación
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En consecuencia, la brevedad, claridad y sencillez en la comunicación es aquella que se expresa de manera calmada, sin dañar sensibilidades y aporta luminosidad a la relación laboral. Los ejes para lograr dicho cometido son la franqueza, honestidad, erradicar las presiones que traen manipulación implícita y por sobre todo empatía. Si se aseguran estos conceptos y se hacen carne en las relaciones, las respuestas estarán cargadas con las mismas aptitudes, y en consecuencia se asegura una comunicación ascendente, en positivo

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3 Ground Rules

Establishing ground rules is essential for any support group. These guidelines set the expectations for behavior and communication within the group. When conflicts arise, remind members of these rules, which should promote respect, confidentiality, and a non-judgmental approach. Ground rules help prevent the escalation of arguments and ensure that discussions remain productive and focused on support rather than division.

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Dra. María Yolanda De Simone

.Tenacidad en los Propósitos.! Mediadora y Negociadora Nacional e Internacional. Docente. Formadora y Capacitadora de Mediadores. Especialista en Empresas Familiares. Mediación en Argentina by Mary De Simone,mr. ÍA.
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en un equipo las reglas de intervención con las partes y los miembros del equipo deben ser claras y precisas, más allá de que todo el equipo conoce la situación macro y micro, cada uno adopta roles para lograr una mayor efectividad y colaboración en la resolución, también debe quedar muy en claro que se destierra el ego, el lucimiento personal y/o profesional individual, la colonización con una de las partes y su relato, sesgos, creencias y prejuicios. Así mismo la posibilidad de permanecer callado o dejar la sesión si vamos a perjudicar el resultado. El equipo tendrá su propio lenguaje analógico para comunicarse ante esta circunstancia

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4 Mediation Techniques

Sometimes, a neutral party is needed to navigate through a heated disagreement. Mediation techniques can be useful in these instances. As a facilitator, you can help members articulate their feelings without assigning blame. Use open-ended questions to explore the reasons behind their opinions and guide them towards a resolution that acknowledges each person's perspective. The goal is not to win an argument but to reach a mutual understanding.

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Francine Travaglin

GMO Change Practitioner Prosci | HCMP® 3G Expert Professional & Agile Practitioner
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As seguintes praticas podem ser extremamente eficazes na mediação: 1. Neutralidade:O mediador deve ser imparcial, garantindo que todas as partes se sintam respeitadas. 2. Comunicação Não-Violenta (CNV): Expressar sentimentos e necessidades sem atribuir culpa evita defensivas. 3. Perguntas Abertas: Entender motivações. 4. Escuta Ativa:Ouvir atentamente e refletir o que foi dito garante compreensão mútua. 5. Reenquadramento:Reformular problemas de maneira menos confrontacional ajuda a ver novas perspectivas. 6. Foco nas Soluções: Guiar as partes a buscar soluções práticas. 7. Reconhecimento das Perspectivas: Validar e reconhecer as perspectivas é crucial. 8. Definição de Metas Comuns:Identificar objetivos comuns cria cooperação.

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Raquel Coscia

Gente e Gestão | DHO | Business Partner | Administração de Pessoas | Mentora de Carreira.
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No calor das reuniões, o surgimento de divergências de opiniões é inevitável.Eu procuro navegar por essas situações de forma eficaz e empática, utilizando técnicas de mediação para transformar o conflto em um catalisador de crescimento mútuo.

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5 Solution Focus

Shift the group's focus toward finding solutions rather than dwelling on the conflict. Encourage members to brainstorm together for ways to move forward that respect everyone's needs. This collaborative approach not only resolves the immediate disagreement but also strengthens the group's ability to handle future conflicts. It's about building a toolkit of strategies that members can draw upon whenever differences arise.

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6 Continuous Improvement

Remember that conflict resolution is an ongoing process. After navigating through a disagreement, take time to reflect on what worked and what didn't. This reflection can involve the whole group, as it promotes collective learning and improvement. Discuss how future conflicts can be managed more effectively and consider updating ground rules or conflict resolution strategies as needed. Continuous improvement ensures that the group evolves and remains a supportive space for all members.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Support group members are at odds during a session. How do you navigate conflicting opinions effectively?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Active Listening

2 Empathy Exercise

3 Ground Rules

4 Mediation Techniques

5 Solution Focus

6 Continuous Improvement

7 Here’s what else to consider

Peer Support

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Support group members are at odds during a session. How do you navigate conflicting opinions effectively?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Active Listening

2 Empathy Exercise

3 Ground Rules

4 Mediation Techniques

5 Solution Focus

6 Continuous Improvement

7 Here’s what else to consider

Peer Support

Rate this article

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