You can't control what others think or do, but you can minimize conflict by taking responsibility for your actions and reactions.

It is a fact of nature that people don't always get along or agree on everything. Conflict will be minimized if the climate in the work place puts people at ease and permits real feelings to be expressed.

- treat others with respect and consideration
- use communication tools that minimize defensiveness and miscommunication
- recognize and control your "knee-jerk" reactions
- negotiate agreements that are Win-Win
- continue to develop a trusting relationship with the people you work with

Treat others with respect and consideration . . .

Convincing another person to do something involves saying and doing the things that cause others to want to do what you want them to do.

- If you put another person on the defensive, you will NOT succeed in convincing them of anything!
- If you are belittle the opinions of others, argumentative and always sure of your own viewpoint, the other person will feel hostile toward you.
- If you are friendly, appeal to others' desire for fairness and excellence, request advice where appropriate, acknowledge effort, and sympathize with his real issues, you will have better chance of changing his thinking.
- People tend to agree with, and like listening to, information that makes them feel worthwhile.

You may think the other person is wrong, but it's very important to understand that what they do and say makes sense to them!

http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/dhr/oversight/docs/conflict.pdf


Care Less What Others Think

Do you worry what other people think and ignore your own opinion?

Do you find yourself trying to work out how other people will feel about a decision rather than considering your own point of view?

Of course we all need to consider other people to be decent and sensitive. But if we care too much what other people think we live by our imaginations of others thoughts! Do you really want to live like that?

To be a truly independent and self-confident person you need to start being more self-directed. What do you think? What do you want? What is your opinion?

When you start to care less what others think you'll start living your life not a dim reflection of what someone else thinks your life should be.

Other people often have it wrong!
The Beatles were initially rejected by music promoters, as late as the sixties many were still saying that putting a man on the moon was an impossibility. People laughed at Douglas Bader when he said he wanted to fly again after losing both legs after being shot down over Germany in WW2. Despite public opinion he went on to be one of the greatest flying aces. Did he care what others thought?

Public opinion is notoriously unreliable. Trust yourself more!

When you care too much what others think you are open to manipulation because you will tend to go with the herd. When you care less what other people think you become a more honest, and therefore decent, person because you don't have to pretend so much.

http://www.hypnosisdownloads.com/downloads/self_improvement/people-think.html