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Effective Conflict Management Strategies

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Published: Jan 31, 2024

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Table of contents

Introduction, definition and types of conflicts, importance of effective conflict management, strategies and techniques in conflict management, evaluating the effectiveness of conflict management strategies, a. collaborative problem-solving, b. compromise and negotiation, c. mediation and third-party intervention.

  • Level of satisfaction and agreement of all parties involved
  • Reduction of tension and escalation of conflict
  • Creativity and flexibility in generating solutions
  • Long-term sustainability of the resolution
  • Diamond, L. (2013). Democracy's Fourth Wave? Digital Media and the Arab Spring. Oxford University Press.
  • Ding, C., & Liu, Y. (2016). A review on tuition-free higher education: Opportunity for developing countries to transform tertiary education. International Journal of Educational Development, 48, 22-30.
  • Druckman, D. (2000). Negotiation: From theory to practice. Journal of Social Issues, 56(1), 43-55.

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conflict reflection essay

Home Essay Examples Business Conflict

Conflict Analysis And Conflict Reflection

  • Category Business
  • Subcategory Human Resource Management
  • Topic Conflict

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The purpose of this paper is to highlight both conflict analysis and conflict reflection. The essay describes among other things the scene of the conflict, the participants, location and its impact on the conflict, the bone of contention, the presence and distinction between surface-level problem and the underlying problem as well as a closer look at all the above.

Conflict Analysis

The conflict discussed here was between two war-torn leaders of a country in Africa, South Sudan. The conflict scene was a region militia group often breeds and attacks the people in politically motivated wars. Although not directly involved, political leaders in this country namely the president and his deputy, have been cited to be the reason for the conflict given that they had fallen out pushing the deputy to go in hiding. The angle of this paper is that of a covert operator working for a global humanitarian organization that attempted to do a conflict resolution task in the country. Before the conflict, the president and his deputy had a cordial relationship, running the government smoothly. The communities involved in the conflict directly were also peaceful and cooperated before the leaders fall out. The real reason for the conflict can be traced to a time when the deputy showed interest in being the president and the president feeling threatened, got uncomfortable. Thus, the relationship between the two sides was built on trust and loyalty and the emergence of mistrust greatly affected the peace between them. The repercussions have been felt widely ever since, with communities losing loved ones in endless community clashes.

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Conflict Drivers and Triggers

Being Africa’s youngest nation, South Sudan has continued to struggle with maintaining a calm demeanor even after the 2015 Peace Agreement was signed with the help of the United Nations and other regional leaders. The Agreement was not implemented, leading to a more serious conflict between the two factions which saw more than 50,000 people killed in 2016 (Mutanda, 2019). As a result, many citizens have been affected by hunger as normal agricultural seasons got disrupted by the war while more continue to die due to lack of proper healthcare. Conflict assessments continue to be done previously by collaborators within the region with assistance from global bodies such as UNICEF. It is clear that the location of the conflict might heavily influence the success or lack thereof, and that there could be more reasons why the conflict exists in the first place.

Just like any other conflict, the South Sudan conflict’s underlying problem has been identified as an uneven distribution of resources. An oil-producing country like South Sudan is highly susceptible to resource division-related conflicts. Although the surface level problem seems to be political rivalry, there is a deeper issue to solve and which is how the regions get their share of the country’s resources. Resources are among the biggest triggers of conflict. Resources disputes in South Sudan have ignited deadly violence between ethnic groups thus frustrating efforts to contain further conflicts. In this case, resource-related dynamics largely influence political stability. Even inter-familial disputes often originate from resource allocation and before becoming a full-blown conflict. Therefore, there is a clear correlation between the surface level problem which appears to be a political rivalry between President Salva Kiir and the opposition leader Riek Machar and the underlying problem which is the resource disputes.

Conflict management strategies

Bearing in mind that conflict management does not involve the suppression of it but handling it, it is important to look at some of the strategies that were used in conflict management efforts in South Sudan. Leaders Riek Machar and President Kiir agreed (Onditi, 2017), upon calls by regional peace bodies and well and internal agencies, to find a solution to the chaos in their country. When the two finally came together, they employed the strategies of compromise and collaboration which helped quell the war that had hit most regions. This method appeared effective, with each of the leaders pledging to retaliate, come together and build the world’s youngest nation. Global humanitarian organizations present in the country also played a pivotal role in providing a conducive environment for victims’ recovery. One would know the outcome of the strategies because of the calm that engulfed the country, a clear sign of change and peace. The result of the peace agreement was visible and spelled a win for both the participants and the communities. Although the two leaders deepened their relationship for the good of the country, it was not for long. Differences emerged between them soon enough, further jeopardizing the peace that had started forming. Looking back, it is clear that variables such as equal opportunities and resource mapping efforts could have helped give a lasting solution.

Reflection of the Analysis

From the above exercise, there have been a few lessons worth taking. First, that conflict comes with two levels of problems; the surface level problem as well as an underlying problem for the concerned parties to discover the underlying problem, deliberate actions have to be taken such as bring the warring sides together and getting their sides of the stalemate. The other lesson is that one of the biggest triggers of violence and conflicts in any community is resource allocation. An equitable share of resources is likely to result in a harmonious coexistence while the opposite fuels disputes that can escalate to unwanted proportions.

In conclusion, conflicts are in most parts of the world and are usually fueled by disputes which escalate to higher proportions. In South Sudan, an African country and the youngest in the world, for instance, resource distribution has been cited as the major cause of conflicts. Conflicts have also been known to result in fatal wars if not managed well. Some of the popular conflict management strategies that have been used in South Sudan include collaboration and compromise. And even though South Sudan has not achieved peace in totality, more efforts continue to be put by the international communities to help that nation.

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conflict reflection essay

Guide on How to Write a Reflection Paper with Free Tips and Example

conflict reflection essay

A reflection paper is a very common type of paper among college students. Almost any subject you enroll in requires you to express your opinion on certain matters. In this article, we will explain how to write a reflection paper and provide examples and useful tips to make the essay writing process easier.

Reflection papers should have an academic tone yet be personal and subjective. In this paper, you should analyze and reflect upon how an experience, academic task, article, or lecture shaped your perception and thoughts on a subject.

Here is what you need to know about writing an effective critical reflection paper. Stick around until the end of our guide to get some useful writing tips from the writing team at EssayPro — a research paper writing service

What Is a Reflection Paper

A reflection paper is a type of paper that requires you to write your opinion on a topic, supporting it with your observations and personal experiences. As opposed to presenting your reader with the views of other academics and writers, in this essay, you get an opportunity to write your point of view—and the best part is that there is no wrong answer. It is YOUR opinion, and it is your job to express your thoughts in a manner that will be understandable and clear for all readers that will read your paper. The topic range is endless. Here are some examples: whether or not you think aliens exist, your favorite TV show, or your opinion on the outcome of WWII. You can write about pretty much anything.

There are three types of reflection paper; depending on which one you end up with, the tone you write with can be slightly different. The first type is the educational reflective paper. Here your job is to write feedback about a book, movie, or seminar you attended—in a manner that teaches the reader about it. The second is the professional paper. Usually, it is written by people who study or work in education or psychology. For example, it can be a reflection of someone’s behavior. And the last is the personal type, which explores your thoughts and feelings about an individual subject.

However, reflection paper writing will stop eventually with one very important final paper to write - your resume. This is where you will need to reflect on your entire life leading up to that moment. To learn how to list education on resume perfectly, follow the link on our dissertation writing services .

Unlock the potential of your thoughts with EssayPro . Order a reflection paper and explore a range of other academic services tailored to your needs. Dive deep into your experiences, analyze them with expert guidance, and turn your insights into an impactful reflection paper.

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Free Reflection Paper Example

Now that we went over all of the essentials about a reflection paper and how to approach it, we would like to show you some examples that will definitely help you with getting started on your paper.

Reflection Paper Format

Reflection papers typically do not follow any specific format. Since it is your opinion, professors usually let you handle them in any comfortable way. It is best to write your thoughts freely, without guideline constraints. If a personal reflection paper was assigned to you, the format of your paper might depend on the criteria set by your professor. College reflection papers (also known as reflection essays) can typically range from about 400-800 words in length.

Here’s how we can suggest you format your reflection paper:

common reflection paper format

How to Start a Reflection Paper

The first thing to do when beginning to work on a reflection essay is to read your article thoroughly while taking notes. Whether you are reflecting on, for example, an activity, book/newspaper, or academic essay, you want to highlight key ideas and concepts.

You can start writing your reflection paper by summarizing the main concept of your notes to see if your essay includes all the information needed for your readers. It is helpful to add charts, diagrams, and lists to deliver your ideas to the audience in a better fashion.

After you have finished reading your article, it’s time to brainstorm. We’ve got a simple brainstorming technique for writing reflection papers. Just answer some of the basic questions below:

  • How did the article affect you?
  • How does this article catch the reader’s attention (or does it all)?
  • Has the article changed your mind about something? If so, explain how.
  • Has the article left you with any questions?
  • Were there any unaddressed critical issues that didn’t appear in the article?
  • Does the article relate to anything from your past reading experiences?
  • Does the article agree with any of your past reading experiences?

Here are some reflection paper topic examples for you to keep in mind before preparing to write your own:

  • How my views on rap music have changed over time
  • My reflection and interpretation of Moby Dick by Herman Melville
  • Why my theory about the size of the universe has changed over time
  • How my observations for clinical psychological studies have developed in the last year

The result of your brainstorming should be a written outline of the contents of your future paper. Do not skip this step, as it will ensure that your essay will have a proper flow and appropriate organization.

Another good way to organize your ideas is to write them down in a 3-column chart or table.

how to write a reflection paper

Do you want your task look awesome?

If you would like your reflection paper to look professional, feel free to check out one of our articles on how to format MLA, APA or Chicago style

Writing a Reflection Paper Outline

Reflection paper should contain few key elements:

Introduction

Your introduction should specify what you’re reflecting upon. Make sure that your thesis informs your reader about your general position, or opinion, toward your subject.

  • State what you are analyzing: a passage, a lecture, an academic article, an experience, etc...)
  • Briefly summarize the work.
  • Write a thesis statement stating how your subject has affected you.

One way you can start your thesis is to write:

Example: “After reading/experiencing (your chosen topic), I gained the knowledge of…”

Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs should examine your ideas and experiences in context to your topic. Make sure each new body paragraph starts with a topic sentence.

Your reflection may include quotes and passages if you are writing about a book or an academic paper. They give your reader a point of reference to fully understand your feedback. Feel free to describe what you saw, what you heard, and how you felt.

Example: “I saw many people participating in our weight experiment. The atmosphere felt nervous yet inspiring. I was amazed by the excitement of the event.”

As with any conclusion, you should summarize what you’ve learned from the experience. Next, tell the reader how your newfound knowledge has affected your understanding of the subject in general. Finally, describe the feeling and overall lesson you had from the reading or experience.

There are a few good ways to conclude a reflection paper:

  • Tie all the ideas from your body paragraphs together, and generalize the major insights you’ve experienced.
  • Restate your thesis and summarize the content of your paper.

We have a separate blog post dedicated to writing a great conclusion. Be sure to check it out for an in-depth look at how to make a good final impression on your reader.

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How to Write a Reflection Paper: Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: create a main theme.

After you choose your topic, write a short summary about what you have learned about your experience with that topic. Then, let readers know how you feel about your case — and be honest. Chances are that your readers will likely be able to relate to your opinion or at least the way you form your perspective, which will help them better understand your reflection.

For example: After watching a TEDx episode on Wim Hof, I was able to reevaluate my preconceived notions about the negative effects of cold exposure.

Step 2: Brainstorm Ideas and Experiences You’ve Had Related to Your Topic

You can write down specific quotes, predispositions you have, things that influenced you, or anything memorable. Be personal and explain, in simple words, how you felt.

For example: • A lot of people think that even a small amount of carbohydrates will make people gain weight • A specific moment when I struggled with an excess weight where I avoided carbohydrates entirely • The consequences of my actions that gave rise to my research • The evidence and studies of nutritional science that claim carbohydrates alone are to blame for making people obese • My new experience with having a healthy diet with a well-balanced intake of nutrients • The influence of other people’s perceptions on the harm of carbohydrates, and the role their influence has had on me • New ideas I’ve created as a result of my shift in perspective

Step 3: Analyze How and Why These Ideas and Experiences Have Affected Your Interpretation of Your Theme

Pick an idea or experience you had from the last step, and analyze it further. Then, write your reasoning for agreeing or disagreeing with it.

For example, Idea: I was raised to think that carbohydrates make people gain weight.

Analysis: Most people think that if they eat any carbohydrates, such as bread, cereal, and sugar, they will gain weight. I believe in this misconception to such a great extent that I avoided carbohydrates entirely. As a result, my blood glucose levels were very low. I needed to do a lot of research to overcome my beliefs finally. Afterward, I adopted the philosophy of “everything in moderation” as a key to a healthy lifestyle.

For example: Idea: I was brought up to think that carbohydrates make people gain weight. Analysis: Most people think that if they eat any carbohydrates, such as bread, cereal, and sugar, they will gain weight. I believe in this misconception to such a great extent that I avoided carbohydrates entirely. As a result, my blood glucose levels were very low. I needed to do a lot of my own research to finally overcome my beliefs. After, I adopted the philosophy of “everything in moderation” as a key for having a healthy lifestyle.

Step 4: Make Connections Between Your Observations, Experiences, and Opinions

Try to connect your ideas and insights to form a cohesive picture for your theme. You can also try to recognize and break down your assumptions, which you may challenge in the future.

There are some subjects for reflection papers that are most commonly written about. They include:

  • Book – Start by writing some information about the author’s biography and summarize the plot—without revealing the ending to keep your readers interested. Make sure to include the names of the characters, the main themes, and any issues mentioned in the book. Finally, express your thoughts and reflect on the book itself.
  • Course – Including the course name and description is a good place to start. Then, you can write about the course flow, explain why you took this course, and tell readers what you learned from it. Since it is a reflection paper, express your opinion, supporting it with examples from the course.
  • Project – The structure for a reflection paper about a project has identical guidelines to that of a course. One of the things you might want to add would be the pros and cons of the course. Also, mention some changes you might want to see, and evaluate how relevant the skills you acquired are to real life.
  • Interview – First, introduce the person and briefly mention the discussion. Touch on the main points, controversies, and your opinion of that person.

Writing Tips

Everyone has their style of writing a reflective essay – and that's the beauty of it; you have plenty of leeway with this type of paper – but there are still a few tips everyone should incorporate.

Before you start your piece, read some examples of other papers; they will likely help you better understand what they are and how to approach yours. When picking your subject, try to write about something unusual and memorable — it is more likely to capture your readers' attention. Never write the whole essay at once. Space out the time slots when you work on your reflection paper to at least a day apart. This will allow your brain to generate new thoughts and reflections.

  • Short and Sweet – Most reflection papers are between 250 and 750 words. Don't go off on tangents. Only include relevant information.
  • Clear and Concise – Make your paper as clear and concise as possible. Use a strong thesis statement so your essay can follow it with the same strength.
  • Maintain the Right Tone – Use a professional and academic tone—even though the writing is personal.
  • Cite Your Sources – Try to cite authoritative sources and experts to back up your personal opinions.
  • Proofreading – Not only should you proofread for spelling and grammatical errors, but you should proofread to focus on your organization as well. Answer the question presented in the introduction.

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How to Write a Reflection Paper: An Easy-to-Follow Guide

Last Updated: May 1, 2024 Fact Checked

Sample Outline and Paper

Brainstorming, organizing a reflection paper, as you write, expert q&a.

This article was co-authored by Alicia Cook . Alicia Cook is a Professional Writer based in Newark, New Jersey. With over 12 years of experience, Alicia specializes in poetry and uses her platform to advocate for families affected by addiction and to fight for breaking the stigma against addiction and mental illness. She holds a BA in English and Journalism from Georgian Court University and an MBA from Saint Peter’s University. Alicia is a bestselling poet with Andrews McMeel Publishing and her work has been featured in numerous media outlets including the NY Post, CNN, USA Today, the HuffPost, the LA Times, American Songwriter Magazine, and Bustle. She was named by Teen Vogue as one of the 10 social media poets to know and her poetry mixtape, “Stuff I’ve Been Feeling Lately” was a finalist in the 2016 Goodreads Choice Awards. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 3,814,896 times.

Reflection papers allow you to communicate with your instructor about how a specific article, lesson, lecture, or experience shapes your understanding of class-related material. Reflection papers are personal and subjective [1] X Research source , but they must still maintain a somewhat academic tone and must still be thoroughly and cohesively organized. Here's what you need to know about writing an effective reflection.

How to Start a Reflection Paper

To write a reflection paper, first write an introduction that outlines your expectations and thesis. Then, state your conclusions in the body paragraphs, explaining your findings with concrete details. Finally, conclude with a summary of your experience.

conflict reflection essay

  • These sentences should be both descriptive yet straight to the point.

Step 2 Jot down material that stands out in your mind.

  • For lectures or readings, you can write down specific quotations or summarize passages.
  • For experiences, make a note of specific portions of your experience. You could even write a small summary or story of an event that happened during the experience that stands out. Images, sounds, or other sensory portions of your experience work, as well.

Alicia Cook

  • In the first column, list the main points or key experiences. These points can include anything that the author or speaker treated with importance as well as any specific details you found to be important. Divide each point into its own separate row.
  • In the second column, list your personal response to the points you brought up in the first column. Mention how your subjective values, experiences, and beliefs influence your response.
  • In the third and last column, describe how much of your personal response to share in your reflection paper.

Step 4 Ask yourself questions to guide your response.

  • Does the reading, lecture, or experience challenge you socially, culturally, emotionally, or theologically? If so, where and how? Why does it bother you or catch your attention?
  • Has the reading, lecture, or experience changed your way of thinking? Did it conflict with beliefs you held previously, and what evidence did it provide you with in order to change your thought process on the topic?
  • Does the reading, lecture, or experience leave you with any questions? Were these questions ones you had previously or ones you developed only after finishing?
  • Did the author, speaker, or those involved in the experience fail to address any important issues? Could a certain fact or idea have dramatically changed the impact or conclusion of the reading, lecture, or experience?
  • How do the issues or ideas brought up in this reading, lecture, or experience mesh with past experiences or readings? Do the ideas contradict or support each other?

Step 1 Keep it short and sweet.

  • Verify whether or not your instructor specified a word count for the paper instead of merely following this average.
  • If your instructor demands a word count outside of this range, meet your instructor's requirements.

Step 2 Introduce your expectations.

  • For a reading or lecture, indicate what you expected based on the title, abstract, or introduction.
  • For an experience, indicate what you expected based on prior knowledge provided by similar experiences or information from others.

Step 3 Develop a thesis statement.

  • This is essentially a brief explanation of whether or not your expectations were met.
  • A thesis provides focus and cohesion for your reflection paper.
  • You could structure a reflection thesis along the following lines: “From this reading/experience, I learned...”

Step 4 Explain your conclusions in the body.

  • Your conclusions must be explained. You should provide details on how you arrived at those conclusions using logic and concrete details.
  • The focus of the paper is not a summary of the text, but you still need to draw concrete, specific details from the text or experience in order to provide context for your conclusions.
  • Write a separate paragraph for each conclusion or idea you developed.
  • Each paragraph should have its own topic sentence. This topic sentence should clearly identify your major points, conclusions, or understandings.

Step 5 Conclude with a summary.

  • The conclusions or understandings explained in your body paragraphs should support your overall conclusion. One or two may conflict, but the majority should support your final conclusion.

Step 1 Reveal information wisely.

  • If you feel uncomfortable about a personal issue that affects the conclusions you reached, it is wisest not to include personal details about it.
  • If a certain issue is unavoidable but you feel uncomfortable revealing your personal experiences or feelings regarding it, write about the issue in more general terms. Identify the issue itself and indicate concerns you have professionally or academically.

Step 2 Maintain a professional or academic tone.

  • Avoid dragging someone else down in your writing. If a particular person made the experience you are reflecting on difficult, unpleasant, or uncomfortable, you must still maintain a level of detachment as you describe that person's influence. Instead of stating something like, “Bob was such a rude jerk,” say something more along the lines of, “One man was abrupt and spoke harshly, making me feel as though I was not welcome there.” Describe the actions, not the person, and frame those actions within the context of how they influenced your conclusions.
  • A reflection paper is one of the few pieces of academic writing in which you can get away with using the first person pronoun “I.” That said, you should still relate your subjective feelings and opinions using specific evidence to explain them. [8] X Research source
  • Avoid slang and always use correct spelling and grammar. Internet abbreviations like “LOL” or “OMG” are fine to use personally among friends and family, but this is still an academic paper, so you need to treat it with the grammatical respect it deserves. Do not treat it as a personal journal entry.
  • Check and double-check your spelling and grammar after you finish your paper.

Step 3 Review your reflection paper at the sentence level.

  • Keep your sentences focused. Avoid squeezing multiple ideas into one sentence.
  • Avoid sentence fragments. Make sure that each sentence has a subject and a verb.
  • Vary your sentence length. Include both simple sentences with a single subject and verb and complex sentences with multiple clauses. Doing so makes your paper sound more conversational and natural, and prevents the writing from becoming too wooden. [9] X Research source

Step 4 Use transitions.

  • Common transitional phrases include "for example," "for instance," "as a result," "an opposite view is," and "a different perspective is."

Step 5 Relate relevant classroom information to the experience or reading.

  • For instance, if reflecting on a piece of literary criticism, you could mention how your beliefs and ideas about the literary theory addressed in the article relate to what your instructor taught you about it or how it applies to prose and poetry read in class.
  • As another example, if reflecting on a new social experience for a sociology class, you could relate that experience to specific ideas or social patterns discussed in class.

Alicia Cook

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  • ↑ https://www.csuohio.edu/writing-center/reflection-papers
  • ↑ https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/assignments/reflectionpaper
  • ↑ Alicia Cook. Professional Writer. Expert Interview. 11 December 2020.
  • ↑ https://www.trentu.ca/academicskills/how-guides/how-write-university/how-approach-any-assignment/how-write-reflection-paper
  • ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/thesis-statements/
  • ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/conclusions/
  • ↑ https://www.anu.edu.au/students/academic-skills/writing-assessment/reflective-writing/reflective-essays
  • ↑ https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/scholarlyvoice/sentencestructure

About This Article

Alicia Cook

To write a reflection paper, start with an introduction where you state any expectations you had for the reading, lesson, or experience you're reflecting on. At the end of your intro, include a thesis statement that explains how your views have changed. In the body of your essay, explain the conclusions you reached after the reading, lesson, or experience and discuss how you arrived at them. Finally, finish your paper with a succinct conclusion that explains what you've learned. To learn how to brainstorm for your paper, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Reflective Essay: Introduction, Structure, Topics, Examples For University

Table of Contents

If you’re not quite sure how to go about writing reflective essays, they can be a real stumbling block. Reflective essays are essentially a critical examination of a life experience, and with the right guidance, they don’t have to be too difficult to write. As with other essays, a reflective essay needs to be well structured and easily understood, but its content is more like a diary entry.

This guide discusses how to write a successful reflective essay, including what makes a great structure and some tips on the writing process. To make this guide the ultimate guide for anyone who needs help with reflective essays, we’ve included an example reflective essay as well.

Reflective Essay

Reflective essays require students to examine their life experiences, especially those which left an impact.

Reflective Essay

The purpose of writing a reflective essay is to challenge students to think deeply and to learn from their experiences. This is done by describing their thoughts and feelings regarding a certain experience and analyzing its impact.

Reflective essays are a unique form of academic writing that encourages introspection and self-analysis. They provide an opportunity for individuals to reflect upon their experiences, thoughts, and emotions, and effectively communicate their insights. In this article, we will explore the essential components of a reflective essay, discuss popular topics, provide guidance on how to start and structure the essay, and offer examples to inspire your writing.

I. Understanding Reflective Essays:

  • Definition and purpose of reflective essays
  • Key characteristics that distinguish them from other types of essays
  • Benefits of writing reflective essays for personal growth and development

II. Choosing a Reflective Essay Topic:

  • Exploring personal experiences and their impact
  • Analyzing significant life events or milestones
  • Examining challenges, successes, or failures and lessons learned
  • Reflecting on personal growth and transformation
  • Discussing the impact of specific books, movies, or artworks
  • Analyzing the influence of cultural or social experiences
  • Reflecting on internships, volunteer work, or professional experiences

III. Starting a Reflective Essay:

  • Engage the reader with a captivating hook or anecdote
  • Introduce the topic and provide context
  • Clearly state the purpose and objectives of the reflection
  • Include a thesis statement that highlights the main insights to be discussed

IV. Writing a Reflective Essay on a Class:

  • Assessing the overall learning experience and objectives of the class
  • Analyzing personal growth and development throughout the course
  • Reflecting on challenges, achievements, and lessons learned
  • Discussing the impact of specific assignments, projects, or discussions
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of teaching methods and materials

V. Common Mistakes to Avoid in Reflective Essay Writing:

  • Superficial reflection without deep analysis
  • Overuse of personal opinions without supporting evidence
  • Lack of organization and coherence in presenting ideas
  • Neglecting to connect personal experiences to broader concepts or theories
  • Failing to provide specific examples to illustrate key points

VI. Why “Shooting an Elephant” by George Orwell is Classified as a Reflective Essay:

  • Briefly summarize the essay’s content and context
  • Analyze the introspective and self-analytical elements in Orwell’s narrative
  • Discuss the themes of moral conflict, imperialism, and personal conscience
  • Highlight Orwell’s reflections on the psychological and emotional impact of his actions

VII. Reflective Essay Structure:

  • Engaging opening statement or anecdote
  • Background information and context
  • Clear thesis statement
  • Present and analyze personal experiences, thoughts, and emotions
  • Reflect on the significance and impact of those experiences
  • Connect personal reflections to broader concepts or theories
  • Provide supporting evidence and specific examples
  • Summarize key insights and reflections
  • Emphasize the personal growth or lessons learned
  • Conclude with a thought-provoking statement or call to action

VIII. Reflective Essay Examples:

  • Example 1: Reflecting on a life-changing travel experience
  • Example 2: Analyzing personal growth during a challenging academic year
  • Example 3: Reflecting on the impact of volunteering at a local shelter

During a reflective essay, the writer examines his or her own experiences, hence the term ‘reflection’. The purpose of a reflective essay is to allow the author to recount a particular life experience. However, it should also explore how he or she has changed or grown as a result of the experience.

The format of reflective writing can vary, but you’ll most likely see it in the form of a learning log or diary entry. The author’s diary entries demonstrate how the author’s thoughts have developed and evolved over the course of a particular period of time.

The format of a reflective essay can vary depending on the intended audience. A reflective essay might be academic or part of a broader piece of writing for a magazine, for example.

While the format for class assignments may vary, the purpose generally remains the same: tutors want students to think deeply and critically about a particular learning experience. Here are some examples of reflective essay formats you may need to write:

Focusing on personal growth:

Tutors often use this type of paper to help students develop their ability to analyze their personal life experiences so that they can grow and develop emotionally. As a result of the essay, the student gains a better understanding of themselves and their behaviors.

Taking a closer look at the literature:

The purpose of this type of essay is for students to summarize the literature, after which it is applied to their own experiences.

What am I supposed to write about?

When deciding on the content of your reflective essay, you need to keep in mind that it is highly personal and is intended to engage the reader. Reflective essays are much more than just recounting a story. As you reflect on your experience (more on this later), you will need to demonstrate how it influenced your subsequent behavior and how your life has consequently changed.

Start by thinking about some important experiences in your life that have had a profound impact on you, either positively or negatively. A reflection essay topic could be a real-life experience, an imagined experience, a special object or place, a person who influenced you, or something you’ve seen or read.

If you are asked to write a reflective essay for an academic assignment, it is likely that you will be asked to focus on a particular episode – such as a time when you had to make an influential decision – and explain the results. In a reflective essay, the aftermath of the experience is especially significant; miss this out and you will simply be telling a story.

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Considerations

In this type of essay, the reflective process is at the core, so it’s important that you get it right from the beginning. Think deeply about how the experience you have chosen to focus on impacted or changed you. Consider the implications for you on a personal level based on your memories and feelings.

Once you have chosen the topic of your essay, it is imperative that you spend a lot of time thinking about it and studying it thoroughly. Write down everything you remember about it, describing it as clearly and completely as you can. Use your five senses to describe your experience, and be sure to use adjectives. During this stage, you can simply take notes using short phrases, but make sure to record your reactions, perceptions, and experiences.

As soon as you’ve emptied your memory, you should begin reflecting. Choosing some reflection questions that will help you think deeply about the impact and lasting effects of your experience is a helpful way to do this. Here are some suggestions:

  • As a result of the experience, what have you learned about yourself?
  • What have you developed as a result? How?
  • Has it had a positive or negative impact on your life?
  • Looking back, what would you do differently?
  • If you could go back, what would you do differently? Did you make the right decisions?
  • How would you describe the experience in general? What did you learn from the experience? What skills or perspectives did you acquire?

You can use these signpost questions to kick-start your reflective process. Remember that asking yourself lots of questions is crucial to ensuring that you think deeply and critically about your experiences – a skill at the heart of a great reflective essay.

Use models of reflection (like the Gibbs or Kolb cycles) before, during, and after the learning process to ensure that you maintain a high standard of analysis. Before you get to the nitty-gritty of the process, consider questions such as: what might happen (in regards to the experience)?

Will there be any challenges? What knowledge will be needed to best prepare? When you are planning and writing, these questions may be helpful: what is happening within the learning process? Has everything worked according to plan? How am I handling the challenges that come with it?

Do you need to do anything else to ensure that the learning process is successful? Is there anything I can learn from this? Using a framework like this will enable you to keep track of the reflective process that should guide your work.

Here’s a useful tip: no matter how well prepared you feel with all that time spent reflecting in your arsenal, don’t start writing your essay until you have developed a comprehensive, well-rounded plan. There will be so much more coherence in what you write, your ideas will be expressed with structure and clarity, and your essay will probably receive higher marks as a result.

It’s especially important when writing a reflective essay as it’s possible for people to get a little ‘lost’ or disorganized as they recount their own experiences in an erratic and often unsystematic manner since it’s an incredibly personal topic. But if you outline thoroughly (this is the same thing as a ‘plan’) and adhere to it like Christopher Columbus adhered to a map, you should be fine as you embark on the ultimate step of writing your essay. We’ve summarized the benefits of creating a detailed essay outline below if you’re still not convinced of the value of planning:

An outline can help you identify all the details you plan to include in your essay, allowing you to remove all superfluous details so that your essay is concise and to the point.

Think of the outline as a map – you plan in advance which points you will navigate through and discuss in your writing. You will more likely have a clear line of thought, making your work easier to understand. You’ll be less likely to miss out on any pertinent details, and you won’t have to go back at the end and try to fit them in.

This is a real-time-saver! When you use the outline as an essay’s skeleton, you’ll save a tremendous amount of time when writing because you’ll know exactly what you want to say. Due to this, you will be able to devote more time to editing the paper and ensuring it meets high standards.

As you now know the advantages of using an outline for your reflective essay, it is important that you know how to create one. There can be significant differences between it and other typical essay outlines, mostly due to the varying topics. As always, you need to begin your outline by drafting the introduction, body, and conclusion. We will discuss this in more detail below.

Introduction

Your reflective essay must begin with an introduction that contains both a hook and a thesis statement. The goal of a ‘hook’ is to capture the attention of your audience or reader from the very beginning. In the first paragraph of your story, you should convey the exciting aspects of your story so that you can succeed in

If you think about the opening quote of this article, did it grab your attention and make you want to read more? This thesis statement summarizes the essay’s focus, which in this case is a particular experience that left a lasting impression on you. Give a quick overview of your experience – don’t give too much information away or you’ll lose readers’ interest.

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Reflection Essay Structure

A reflective essay differs greatly from an argumentative or research paper in its format. Reflective essays are more like well-structured stories or diary entries that are rife with insights and reflections. Your essay may need to be formatted according to the APA style or MLA style.

In general, the length of a reflection paper varies between 300 and 700 words, but it is a good idea to check with your instructor or employer about the word count. Even though this is an essay about you, you should try to avoid using too much informal language.

The following shortcuts can help you format your paper according to APA or MLA style if your instructor asks:

MLA Format for Reflective Essay

  • Times New Roman 12 pt font double spaced;
  • 1” margins;
  • The top right includes the last name and page number on every page;
  • Titles are centered;
  • The header should include your name, your professor’s name, course number, and the date (dd/mm/yy);
  • The last page contains a Works Cited list.

Reflective Essay in APA Style

  • Include a page header on the top of every page;
  • Insert page number on the right;
  • Your reflective essay should be divided into four parts: Title Page, Abstract, Main Body, and References.

Reflective Essay Outline

Look at your brainstorming table to start organizing your reflective essay. ‘Past experience’ and ‘description’ should make up less than 10% of your essay.

You should include the following in your introduction:

  • Grab the reader’s attention with a short preview of what you’ll be writing about.

Example:  We found Buffy head-to-toe covered in tar, starved and fur in patches, under an abandoned garbage truck.

  • It is important to include ‘past experiences’ in a reflective essay thesis statement; a brief description of what the essay is about.

Example:  My summer volunteering experience at the animal shelter inspired me to pursue this type of work in the future.

Chronological events are the best way to explain the structure of body paragraphs. Respond to the bold questions in the ‘reflection’ section of the table to create a linear storyline.

Here’s an example of what the body paragraph outline should look like:

  • Explicit expectations about the shelter

Example:  I thought it was going to be boring and mundane.

  • The first impression
  • Experience at the shelter

Example:  Finding and rescuing Buffy.

  • Other experiences with rescuing animals
  • Discoveries

Example:  Newly found passion and feelings toward the work.

  • A newly developed mindset

Example:  How your thoughts about animal treatment have changed.

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Here’s How You Can Submit a Well-Written Reflective Essay for University

Even though writing a reflective essay may seem difficult at first, once you have a clear idea of what you will write and more importantly, how to write, it often gets easier as you go along. Here are five key writing tips to keep in mind when writing a reflective essay.

Choosing a Topic for Reflection

As a busy student, when was the last time you drowned yourself in thoughts and reflected on past experiences? Here is an assignment that intentionally puts you in that position.

Think about all of the experiences which have shaped you – a life-changing event, an interaction with someone you admire, a movie character that appealed to you, a book that gave you perspective, or any other experience which contributed to your character or thought process.

You should choose a topic that will help you reflect on your growth as an individual. Start brainstorming and record every idea that comes to mind.

Organize your thoughts in a mind map

The next step is to create a mind map to help you organize your essay once you have a rough idea of what you want to write.

You can use your mind map to quiz yourself by asking questions of relevance and putting together perspectives for your essay.

The purpose of this exercise is to give you an idea of what you want your essay to be about. It is important to keep pushing yourself to think more deeply and find meaning in your experiences in order to create a successful reflective essay.

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Start Freewriting

Sometimes, all you have to do is start writing. Essentially, that’s what freewriting is all about.

After brainstorming, creating a mind map, and organizing your thoughts, open a blank document and start writing. Do not stop to think or to edit – just write as your thoughts come to you.

The best part of freewriting is that it results in a steady flow of ideas you may not have thought of otherwise.

In other words, whether or not you’re motivated to write or are constantly second-guessing your ideas, it helps to let your ideas guide you and put them down on paper.

Structure the Essay

It’s time to put your ideas and thoughts into words and give them a proper structure. A reflective essay should have the following parts:

You should begin your essay with a hook to grab the reader’s attention. While setting the tone for the rest of the essay, your thesis statement should introduce the past experience you will be reflecting on;

In this section, you will elaborate on the experience and its significance, as well as its impact on your life. Avoid rambling on and on about the experience for readers to want to read more of your essay, you need to use your storytelling skills. If you can, use examples to strengthen your narrative;

A summary of your reflections is provided in the concluding paragraph. In your essay, you should describe how the experience shaped your life and how you intend to take your learnings and apply them.

Proofread, Proofread and Proofread

Be sure to proofread your reflective essay before submitting it. Before finalizing it, you need to do thorough proofreading. You will be surprised to see how many silly mistakes are made in the first draft.

Be on the lookout for grammatical, spelling, and sentence formation mistakes. Make sure your essay flows well and avoids plagiarism. If you want a fresh set of eyes on your essay, have a family member or friend read it too.

Reflective Essay Topics

Many students find choosing the right topic for a reflective essay difficult. Writing a reflective essay requires creativity and strong writing skills to express your emotions.

Reflective essays can be inspired by nature, places, relationships, and events. Here are some tips that will help you choose the right essay topic.

  • Decide on a topic idea for your reflective essay that you are familiar with. You will find it easier to write an essay about a topic you are interested in. Never choose a topic that is new to you. This makes the writing phase difficult.
  • Research your topic: Try to recollect minor details about it. Remember all the things that are related to your topic, and include them in your essay. Take notes about your topic.
  • Pick a topic that you can explain from a unique viewpoint: Choose a topic that you can explain from a different perspective. Writing something unique that demonstrates your personality in an interesting way is a good technique. Share a memorable and meaningful experience from your life.

Topics for Reflective Essays for Middle School Students

Essay topics can be difficult to choose for some students. The following list of topics can be classified according to grade level. Pick from them and make topic selection easier.

Topics for Reflective Essays in Grade 7

  • Taking a trip
  • To go scuba diving
  • Within your hometown
  • Was something you were proud of
  • Even when you were lost
  • To your favorite cartoon
  • During that time you lied
  • When you were hunting
  • Did your family play an important role in your life?
  • Spending time outdoors

Topics for Reflective Essays in Grade 8

  • Running in the outdoors
  • While picking berries
  • Will be your biggest loss
  • Who is your biggest inspiration?
  • What is your greatest fear?
  • Tell me about your most exciting moment.
  • What is your least favorite course?
  • When you go on a date
  • To a birthday party
  • Which is your favorite online space?

Topics for Reflective Essays in Grade 9

  • A new school
  • Makes me think about the future.
  • You participated in or watched a sporting event.
  • You moved to a new city.
  • You had an unforgettable dream.
  • You were running and hunting.
  • You cannot forget that dream.
  • It was your childhood home.
  • Watching the sunrise
  • An award ceremony

Topics for Reflective Essays in Grade 10

  • Defending someone in a situation
  • While playing with friends
  • It was a memorable dream
  • About lying and hiding
  • The most recent meal
  • While getting lost in the dark
  • As an intern at a hospital
  • Or when someone’s life inspired you to change your own
  • Challenges as a college freshman
  • By participating in sports

Topics for Reflective Essays for College Students

For college students, the most difficult part of writing a reflective essay is choosing a topic. Some students are better at choosing the essay topic than others, but some will get stuck in this phase.

Here are some excellent reflective essay topics for college students for your convenience. Choose one and write a well-written essay.

  • First time writing a thesis statement
  • Your favorite video game
  • The impact of social media on students
  • A place you always try to avoid
  • What was the best birthday memory you had?
  • What is your favorite restaurant?
  • The moment when you were proud of yourself
  • The bravest moment of your life
  • The most beautiful thing you have ever seen
  • A time you were embarrassed

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Topics for Reflective Essays for High School Students

The choice of a topic for a reflective essay can be confusing for high school students. Your topic should be engaging and you should be able to explain your personal experience easily. Here is a list of good topics for high school students; choose something from the list for your essay.

  • Shop at your favorite outlet store
  • To relive your favorite childhood memory
  • Of the most memorable holiday
  • That scared you?
  • That’s when you met your best friend
  • And what you love about yourself
  • Is playing with friends.
  • What’s your favorite book?
  • I loved playing in the mud as a kid.
  • Having to move to a new town or city

Topics for Reflective Essays about Places

Reflective essays should be based on strong emotions and memories. You could write an essay about a day spent at your favorite café, favorite restaurant, etc.

It is easy to write a reflective essay about a place where you have really good memories. Here are some topic ideas that you can use and write an essay on.

  • Your grandparents’ house
  • A skating rink
  • A place where you feel safe
  • A favorite vacation spot
  • A popular lunch spot
  • On your first day at the circus
  • The mall or your favorite store
  • Your first trip abroad
  • Best park in your town
  • Your most memorable adventure

Topics for Reflective Essays about Events

A good way to grab the reader’s attention is to write about any event. Your essay can be about a birthday party, a farewell, or any other event that you have enough information about.

If you are writing a reflective essay about an event, include vivid details. Here are some interesting topics for reflection essays, choose one and write a good essay.

  • Unexpected gift
  • To travel on vacation
  • While you were lost
  • The first time you voted
  • On your trip to the zoo
  • When you got a new job
  • It was one of your most memorable trips
  • During the holiday season
  • When you moved to a new city
  • Or when you swam fishing

Topics for Reflective Essays on Nature

A reflective essay should provide the reader with a deeper and more meaningful experience. In addition to making your writing process more interesting, writing about nature also stimulates your imagination.

The following are some good reflective essay topics about nature:

  • Mountain climbing
  • Ocean diving
  • Hiking in the woods
  • Climbing rocks
  • And watching the sunset
  • While running in the forest.
  • Spending quality time with your pet.
  • Taking a hike in the woods
  • And going swimming
  • While watching animals at a zoo

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Topics for reflection on relationships

As relationships are filled with strong emotions, writing a reflective essay about them means expressing those emotions. The following are some good reflective essay topics about relationships:

  • A wonderful family reunion
  • When you spoke publicly for the first time
  • What friendship means to me
  • When you were punished by your parents
  • During a family reunion
  • When you apologized
  • For a time you spent with friends without parental supervision
  • Tell me about your relationship with a family member
  • An angry conversation
  • Or a genuinely funny laugh

Some reflective essay topics are the same as some of the questions you may ask in a job interview.

Examples of Reflective Essay

Check out some examples for inspiration now that you know what it takes to write a reflective essay.

An Example of a Reflective Essay on “My Little Brother”

Essay example reflecting on the arrival of a younger sibling, written at a middle or high school level.

“There have been many life-changing experiences in my short life. Every new experience has been the first experience at one point in time. For good or for bad, each event altered the course of my life. But, the most transformative event was the birth of my youngest brother.”.

Joel is someone my parents often refer to as a happy accident. My mother became pregnant when I was 13 and my other brother, Jake, was 10. We were what you would call a well-rounded family of four. In almost every way, we fit the ideal classification. My youngest brother’s striking blue eyes were the moment when we realized what we were missing.

Honestly, I resented having another sibling. It wasn’t necessary to add to our family, and my mother, already 38 at the time, was considered high risk because of her age. A pregnancy full of complications sent my life on a rollercoaster-like ride that my 13-year-old mind could not comprehend. Now I can see how forging through those loops helped me cope with the unforeseen challenges of life.

Reflective Essay Example

My mother took me to the hospital instead of my father on the day Joel was born. I was the next best alternative because Jake and my father were both feverish; it wasn’t a planned move. With each contraction, I gained a new appreciation for just how strong and powerful a woman could be at her weakest. Through holding her hand and feeding her ice chips, I gained a connection with my mother that I didn’t realize we lacked.

Almost simultaneously, my new baby brother entered this world. One doesn’t realize how much you need something until it’s sitting in your lap. Secondly, my life after this moment would never be the same the moment he curled his chubby little finger around mine, I understood the meaning of the words “happy accident.”.y.

Life has given me many experiences that have shaped me as a person. But, nothing so profoundly changed my views and outlook on life as the birth of my youngest brother. Joel’s arrival was a life-altering event that caused me to see the world through new eyes.”

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Reflective Essay Example for “ Reading My Favorite Book”

This reflective essay example about a favorite book is something you might find at the middle or high school level.

When it comes to books, I don’t understand the appeal. Every time I was given an assignment, I would read one after another, not understanding what all the fuss was about. Nevertheless, the moment I read Pride and Prejudice, it was as if my literary eyes were opened for the first time. It stirred love within me for classics I didn’t realize could exist.

When I was first given the assignment of reading Pride and Prejudice, like many of my friends, I scoffed. With an eye roll, I internally calculated how much time I would have to read the book and write a report. I sighed at the loss of time with my friends for a stupid classic.

Cracking open the cover, I was determined to hate it before even reading the first words. By the time I reached page 3, I nearly stopped reading. But there was something about Elizabeth Bennet that quietly piqued my interest. I can’t say where, but somewhere along the way, my eyes devoured the pages instead of trudging along.

The moment I reached the end, I was ecstatic and disappointed at the same time. Their ending had been perfect, but I realized I would miss them. Not just them, but I would also miss being a part of their world.

It was the first time the characters of a story had affected me this way, so I tried to shake it off. However, after several days, that sadness carried me to the classics section of the school library. The moment I cracked open my next classic, my soul instantly felt more at ease, and I’ve never looked back.

I never thought I’d say a book changed me, but in this case, it’s true. The love I found in Pride and Prejudice introduced me to a beautiful world of classic literature I can’t imagine living without. Despite not reading Pride and Prejudice for a while, it will always be my favorite book.

In the conclusion of your reflective essay, you should focus on bringing your piece together. This will include providing a summary of both the points made throughout and what you have learned as a result. Try to include a few points on why and how your attitudes and behaviors have been changed.

Consider also how your character and skills have been affected, for example: what conclusions can be drawn about your problem-solving skills? What can be concluded about your approach to specific situations? What might you do differently in similar situations in the future? What steps have you taken to consolidate everything that you have learned from your experience?

Keep in mind that your tutor will be looking out for evidence of reflection at a very high standard.

Congratulations – you now have the tools to create a thorough and accurate plan which should put you in good stead for the ultimate phase indeed of any essay, the writing process.

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How do you start off a reflective essay?

As is the case with all essays, your reflective essay must begin with an introduction that contains both a hook and a thesis statement. The point of having a ‘hook’ is to grab the attention of your audience or reader from the very beginning.

Can you say I in a reflective essay?

In your reflective essay, you should use the first person with terms like I, me, my, and mine. The essay is an account of something that actually happened to you as well as your thoughts on the event.

What is an example of a reflection?

Common examples include the reflection of light, sound, and water waves. The law of reflection says that for specular reflection the angle at which the wave is incident on the surface equals the angle at which it is reflected. Mirrors exhibit specular reflection.

How do you start the first paragraph of a reflective essay?

Describe the subject matter of the paper in more detail. Include one or two sentences after the first sentence in which you describe the basic features of whatever topic you will be discussing in your essay. Describe them in terms of your feelings, and how you felt and experienced whatever you are discussing.

How many paragraphs should a reflective essay have?

The number of paragraphs depends on the requested essay length. However, it is recommended to write at least three paragraphs in this part. In the body, present your main points, arguments, and examples. This is the part of an essay where you express all your main ideas, develop them, and express your feelings and emotions.

What are the three parts of a reflective essay?

However, some major elements go into a typical reflective essay: introduction, body, and conclusion.

How Do You Write A Reflective Essay?

To write a reflective essay, follow these steps:

  • Choose a topic: Select a specific event, experience, or concept that you want to reflect upon.
  • Brainstorm and outline: Reflect on your chosen topic and jot down key points, thoughts, and emotions associated with it. Create an outline to organize your ideas.
  • Introduction: Begin with an engaging hook to grab the reader’s attention. Provide background information and context related to the topic. End the introduction with a clear thesis statement that expresses the main insights or lessons you will discuss.
  • Body paragraphs: Each paragraph should focus on a specific aspect or experience related to your topic. Reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and observations, and support them with specific examples or evidence. Analyze the significance and impact of these experiences.
  • Use reflection techniques: Incorporate reflection techniques such as asking yourself questions, exploring the “why” behind your thoughts and emotions, and connecting your experiences to broader concepts or theories.
  • Conclusion: Summarize your key insights and reflections from the essay. Emphasize personal growth, lessons learned, or changes in perspective. Leave the reader with a thought-provoking statement or a call to action.

Which Of These Best Describes A Reflective Essay?

A reflective essay is best described as a type of academic or personal writing that allows individuals to examine and reflect upon their experiences, thoughts, and emotions. It involves introspection, self-analysis, and the exploration of lessons learned or personal growth. Reflective essays provide a platform for individuals to communicate their insights and understanding of a particular event, concept, or life experience.

What Is A Reflective Essay And Examples?

A reflective essay is a form of writing where individuals express their thoughts, feelings, and observations about a specific experience, event, or topic. It goes beyond simply describing the experience and delves into analyzing the impact, significance, and lessons learned. Reflective essays encourage self-reflection and introspection, allowing writers to gain deeper understanding and insight.

Examples of reflective essay topics include:

  • Reflecting on a life-changing travel experience and its impact on personal growth.
  • Analyzing the challenges and successes encountered during a group project and the lessons learned.
  • Reflecting on the influence of a particular book, film, or artwork and its effect on personal perspectives.
  • Examining the role of personal values and beliefs in decision-making processes.

What Are The Parts Of A Typical Reflective Essay?

A typical reflective essay consists of the following parts:

  • Introduction: It provides an engaging hook, background information, and context for the topic. The introduction ends with a clear thesis statement that states the main insights or lessons to be discussed.
  • Body paragraphs: Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect or experience related to the topic. Writers reflect on their thoughts, feelings, and observations, supporting them with examples or evidence. They analyze the significance and impact of these experiences and connect them to broader concepts or theories.
  • Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes the key insights and reflections from the essay. It emphasizes personal growth, lessons learned, or changes in perspective. A thought-provoking statement or a call to action is often included to leave a lasting impression on the reader.

What Is A Goal Of The Introduction In A Reflective Essay?

The goal of the introduction in a reflective essay is to capture the reader’s attention and provide them with the necessary background information and context related to the topic. It should set the stage for the reflective journey that follows. The introduction concludes with a clear thesis statement that outlines the main insights or lessons the writer will discuss in the essay. It acts as a roadmap, guiding the reader through the writer’s reflections.

What Idea Would Most Likely Make The Best Reflective Essay?

The best idea for a reflective essay is a topic that holds personal significance and offers opportunities for introspection and deep reflection. An idea that involves a transformative experience, a significant life event, or a challenging situation often makes for a compelling reflective essay. It should be something that evokes strong emotions, prompts critical thinking, and allows for self-analysis. The best reflective essays are those that offer meaningful insights, growth, or lessons learned.

What Makes A Good Reflective Essay?

A good reflective essay possesses several key qualities:

  • Authenticity: It reflects the writer’s genuine thoughts, emotions, and observations.
  • Depth of reflection: It goes beyond surface-level descriptions and delves into meaningful analysis, exploring the “why” behind the experiences.
  • Coherence and organization: The essay is well-structured, with clear paragraphs and logical flow of ideas.
  • Use of specific examples: It supports reflections with specific examples, evidence, or anecdotes to enhance understanding and engagement.
  • Connection to broader concepts or theories: It links personal experiences to broader concepts, theories, or societal issues to demonstrate critical thinking and understanding.
  • Insight and personal growth: The essay offers meaningful insights, lessons learned, or personal growth as a result of the reflection.

By incorporating these elements, a good reflective essay effectively communicates the writer’s introspection and provides a thought-provoking reading experience.

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Reflections on the Israel-Hamas War

For 90 years, The Fletcher School has offered insight into global crises. This collection gathers reflective pieces authored by faculty members on the Israel-Hamas conflict, along with list of news items where their expert commentary has been featured. Through their writings and media engagements, Fletcher's faculty offer a range of academic perspectives on this complex geopolitical issue.

Why We Are Here: Two Peoples, One Land

Monica Toft, Academic Dean

The horrors we are witnessing in Israel and Gaza have been long in the making. At their core they involve a territory that is claimed by two peoples; two nations which, in spite of their shared history, believe this territory cannot be shared. Why? Because territory ...

by Monica Toft, Academic Dean 

Legal Obligations in a Time of War

Tom Dannenbaum

It is impossible to observe the events of the past two weeks in Israel and Palestine with anything other than horror. The Hamas assault beginning on the 7th of October involved shocking massacres, abductions...

by Tom Dannenbaum, Associate Professor of International Law

The Limits of Outside Opinion in Gaza

Daniel Drezner

Israel is ramping up its plans to move into Gaza with overwhelming force. I have received many queries from students along the lines of, “Is there anything we can do to stop the worst from happening?” Because it’s all too easy to envisage...

by Daniel Drezner, Professor of International Politics

A Time For Prayer, A Time For Peace

Tara Sonenshine

The attack that took place on October 7th in Israel, with rockets fired from the Gaza Strip and incursions into homes, music festivals, and ordinary streets, is beyond human understanding...

by Tara Sonenshine, Edward R. Murrow Professor of Practice in Public Diplomacy

A Failed Diplomatic Doctrine

Ibrahim Warde

The last U.S. Secretary of State to have expended any political capital on the two-state solution, providing for a Palestinian state alongside Israel, was John Kerry between 2013 and 2017. His successor Rex Tillerson...

by Ibrahim Warde, Adjunct Professor of International Business

Commentary in the media (click to expand)

Looming Starvation in Gaza Shows Resurgence of Civilian Sieges in Warfare 11 Jan, 2024  The New York Times Link

How Experts Believe Starvation Is Being Utilized in Gaza 6 Jan, 2024  Time Link

The world is at war — and America is exhausted 15 Dec, 2023  The Hill Link

Israelis and Palestinians warring over a homeland is far from unique 12 Dec, 2023  The Conversation Link

Hamas’ use of sexual violence is an all-too-common part of modern war – but not in all conflicts 11 Dec, 2023  The Conversation Link

An unseen tragedy of war 9 Dec, 2023  The Hill Link

Even wars have rules 6 Dec, 2023  Kathimerini Link

When civilians pay the ultimate price in war 30 Nov, 2023  The Hill Link

Top Legal Experts on Why Aid to Gaza Can’t Be Conditioned on Hostage Release, in response to remarks by US Official 20 Nov, 2023  Just Security Link

How International Law Views Military Action at a Hospital 16 Nov, 2023  The New York Times Link

It’s time for Bibi to step down 16 Nov, 2023  The Hill Link

Al Shifa hospital: Israel says arms found inside complex 15 Nov, 2023  BBC World Service Link

Peace is possible in Israel. But not until Hamas is defeated. 12 Nov, 2023  MSNBC Link

Erdogan’s stance on Israel reflects desire to mix politics with realpolitik – and still remain a relevant regional player 10 Nov, 2023  The Conversation Link

Media is meant to inform, but is it stoking the flames of war in the Middle East? 9 Nov, 2023  The Hill Link

Velshi: The complexities of prosecuting war crimes 4 Nov, 2023  MSNBC Link

How the Israel-Hamas war is destabilizing the Horn of Africa 3 Nov, 2023  Responsible Statecraft Link

Fueling the conflict in the Middle East 2 Nov, 2023  The Hill Link A look at the laws that govern urban warfare in Gaza and beyond 1 Nov, 2023  National Public Radio (NPR) Link

The Lessons for Israel of America’s War in Afghanistan 1 Nov, 2023  Foreign Affairs  Link

Israel's actions in Gaza and international law 23 Oct, 2023  Middle East Monitor  Link

As Israel fights on two fronts, the risks for US entanglement grow 21 Oct, 2023 The Boston Globe Link

The Siege of Gaza 20 Oct, 2023 Just Security Link

What is a war crime, and who gets held accountable?  20 Oct, 2023  National Public Radio (NPR) Link

In the fog of war: Journalism’s fight to shine light into darkness 19 Oct, 2023  The Hill  Link

Both sides violating international law in Israel-Hamas conflict, experts tell DW 18 Oct, 2023  Deutsche Welle Link

Greater Boston panel on Israel-Hamas war 18 Oct, 2023  GBH News Link

Deadly Blast at Gaza Hospital Complicates Biden’s Delicate Middle East Mission 17 Oct, 2023  US News & World Report Link

Laws of war explained 17 Oct, 2023  7News Australia Link

Rules of war: What are they? Will they matter in Israel-Gaza conflict? 17 Oct, 2023  The Christian Science Monitor Link

As Israel and Hamas go to war, Republicans blame Biden. Foreign policy experts say that’s unfair. 16 Oct, 2023  The Boston Globe Link

Is Israel acting within the laws of war? 14 Oct, 2023  The Economist Link

War in Israel: From violations of the law to war crimes 14 Oct, 2023  Süddeutsche Zeitung Link

Israel, Gaza and the Laws of War 12 Oct, 2023  The New York Times Link

Will the United States Be the Next Israel? 12 Oct, 2023  Politico Link

Podcast: Gaza War Edition 12 Oct, 2023  Slate Link

The Siege of Gaza and the Starvation War Crime 11 Oct, 2023  Just Security Link

Analysis: What led to the attacks on Israel? 9 Oct, 2023  NBC10 Boston Link

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Reflection On Conflict Resolution

Conflict Resolution Reflection Conflict is inevitable and occurs all around us all the time. Conflict is not about whether something is good or bad, but what is important is how we deal with this conflict. There are many types of conflict and one prominent conflict that I remember in my life is an intragroup conflict. This was in grade 10, when I and three others were working on a Business ED project. The conflict was that I had a really good idea and I was expressing my opinion, but my groupmates were not listening and kept constantly interrupting or calling my idea stupid. This led to a buildup of a lot of tension between us and therefore affected our teamwork as we ended up not working efficiently towards our goal of a good mark. The resolution style I used for this particular conflict was avoidance. This is because eventually, I just let my idea go and just did as the other people in my group said and suppressed my own opinions. This conflict was left unresolved and resulted in us getting a lower mark than expected in the project. At this point, I was thinking of just submitting to their wants and letting my opinions get put to the side. Although I did not act like I was angry on the outside, like most other avoiding individuals, I built up my anger by not releasing it, which in the end just went away. Also, I became less verbal and let the other three lead rather than taking an active role in this project. One advantage of avoiding a conflict is that for a short-term, it allows us to delay solving and facing the issue, giving us time to think about solutions. Another advantage is that individuals that avoid conflict tend to help calm the atmosphere down and realize that the conflict will most likely resolve itself, which was also what I believed for my conflict. However, this tends to make these individuals deny and avoid the conflict entirely, sometimes making it even worse. Also, avoiding a conflict leads to the opinions and needs of those individuals get suppressed, which also happened to me. Avoiding this conflict led the situation to never get resolved, and because of this, I still do not really talk to those individuals. So, for this intragroup conflict scenario, I used the conflict resolution

Conflict Resolution Is Compromise And Understanding The Needs Of Others

In my personal experience with different organizations and work environments, I have learned that conflict will never be eliminated and it will always exist in some form or another. I also learned that in many situations conflicts are created because of someone putting themselves before everyone else in the organization. Employees or team members maybe jealous of what others have or full of envy. Situations like this can exist in any organization including the fire service. No matter what sector of industry people are involved with, there will always be conflict among management, employees, and first responders. In my opinion, the most crucial elements to successful conflict resolution is compromise and understanding the needs of others.

Conflict Resolution

In this paper I will discuss the conflict that is occurring at General Hospital, the conflict management styles that are evident in the case, and how General Hospital could have used teams to address the cost reductions needed to stay competitive. I will also describe how the CEO of General Hospital, Mike Hammer can us negotiation skills to get buy-in for the cost reductions and finally I will recommend a strategy for Hammer to resolve the problem.

Conflict And Conflict: Conflict Resolution And Negotiation

Conflict is a clash of interests, values, actions, views or directions. Conflict refers to the existence of that clash. Conflict is initiated the instant clash occurs. Generally, there are diverse interests and contrary views behind a conflict, which are revealed when people look at a problem from their viewpoint alone. Conflict is an outcome of organizational intricacies, interactions and disagreements. It can be settled by identifying and neutralizing the etiological factors. Once conflict is concluded it can provoke a positive change in the organization.

Blood, Toil, Tears And Sweat, And Dear Miss Breed

There are many ways to resolve conflict. Each of these different ways are effective in their own ways. Most of these methods can resolve conflict better in some situations than others. These ways include having a middle man, staying positive, listening to all parties and compromising, and just ignoring the conflict. By far the universally best way to resolve conflict is by staying calm and positive. Some works that show this are “Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat” by Winston Churchill, and “Dear Miss Breed” by Joanne Oppenheim. Keeping positive is not only the best way to resolve conflict, there are many benefits to staying positive.

Supporting Conflict Resolution

Dr. Rekha S. Rajan writes about how she implemented a twenty-minute structured dramatic play into class time to encourage children to learn to solve conflicts on their own. She first does this by gaining insight on the children’s feelings with a personal story time. Each child tells a story that made them particularly sad, mad, upset, or happy. She then takes those experiences and creates a pre-determined scenario to which, the children will play different roles, share ideas, and come up with a solution.

Opportunity For Improvement : Conflict Resolution

As humans being we should constantly be trying to improve ourselves each and every day. It is not easy to try and assess ourselves but it is a necessary task. We have strengths and weaknesses that make us unique and it is important that we accept our flaws but at the same time try to improve them. Hence, we should refer to our vulnerabilities as opportunities for improvement in order to better ourselves. This has been a constant struggle for me because I find it hard to assess myself. I am glad that I was able to utilize the RNAO Leadership Self-Assessment tool to assess my leadership skills as well as have someone else assess me with it. It allowed me to compare how I rate myself to how they rated me. Based on the assessment tool some of my strengths included empowering my peers, being helpful towards them and communicating effectively. My shortcomings included ineffectively resolving conflicts, and creating a sense of presence and accessibility. Even though we differed on various scores per category we both rated me a one out of five for managing conflicts adequately. This news was not surprising to me as I know I am not the best at resolving conflicts because I would rather just give in than express how I feel or confront an individual at all. To be an exceptional well rounded leader it is imperative that one has a good grasp of conflict resolution strategies because they will inevitably come your way. The purpose of

Conflict Management

Conflict is a fact of life - for individuals, organizations, and societies. The costs of conflict are well-documented - high turnover, grievances and lawsuits, absenteeism, divorce, dysfunctional families, prejudice, fear. What many people don't realize is that well-managed conflict can actually be a force for positive change.

Managing Conflict

NOTE: Review the instructions at http://support.ebsco.com.libproxy.edmc.edu/help/?int=ehost&lang=&feature_id=APA and make any necessary corrections before using. Pay special attention to personal names, capitalization, and dates. Always consult your library resources for the exact formatting and punctuation guidelines.

Conflict Avoidance

In the problem between Trish and Dr. Ramos both sides are using the conflict avoidance approach. Dr. Ramos exhibits conflict avoidance because she knows that Trish is not performing well at work and that she does not pay overtime to Trish, but Dr. Ramos does not take the initiative to solve the problem. Trish exhibits conflict avoidance because one year ago, when she asked Dr. Ramos for a performance review and a raise of her salary, but Dr. Ramos took six months in providing Trish with both requests. Trish thought it was not worth it to go all over again with the same process of asking Dr. Ramos for anything.

Conflict Resolution : Theory And Practice

This paper explores how addressing vulnerability is one of the key factors in conflict resolution. I conducted my research by using three books: Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown, The Handbook of Conflict Resolution: Theory and Practice by Morton Deutsch, Peter T. Coleman and Eric C. Marcus and Difficult Conversations: How To Discuss What Matters Most by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton and Sheila Heen. Each book differs in how they approach the topic of accepting vulnerability; however, they get the point across the same way. This paper pushes readers to readjust their lifestyles to fit a healthier, more conflict-resolved lifestyle.

Reduce Conflict Resolution

Conflict and disagreement are inevitable in relationships. Anger is a natural emotion, and disagreements can be healthy sign of difference. Conflict usually occurs because certain needs are not being met - either within the relationship or outside or it. The object of conflict management is to ask for those needs to be met in a way that does not damage your relationship.

Perspectives On Conflicts And Disputes

I primarily disagree with the observation that rule making and rule following makes a hazardous impediment for people. I concur with the idea that it gives individuals leverage over non-people. This is because the rules make security and request in the general public. Then, if everyone was permitted to do all that he or she needed without any limitations, this would prompt practices, for example, homicide, uproars, assault and taking without any results. The vicinity of rule guarantees that such things do not happen by setting up overwhelming result for people who practice such

The Conflict Resolution Final Essay

Throughout the week of collaborating with team members of a different discipline within this classroom, I was greatly able to learn more about conflict not just through the lecture and curriculum taught but also through application of the concepts within my team. My team, had many conflicts when working together. There were many different dynamics within the team that had created these conflicts. Although conflict is not necessarily a negative aspect since as Walden and their group of researcher stated that "conflict may lead to more creative solutions, and successful navigation of conflict that has been associated with positive bonds, such as trust and respect, between members" (Walden, Javdani, & Allen, 2014). However, only effective conflict can result to this preferred outcome. Many times in group scenarios, conflict is not transformed to productivity. In the case of our team, we struggled with many issues. Here are the different issues that were experienced and how we either resolved it or what we should have done. It also helped me understand myself as a team member.

Conflict Resolution Strategies

In trying to resolve the conflict between Reece and Patel, Edwards used an avoidance strategy. Instead of speaking directly about the root causes, or sources, of the conflict, Edwards focused on the behaviors and treated Reece and Patel like children. Edwards scolded them, and sent them off without bothering to find out what was bothering the two. Of course, this type of conflict resolution is ineffective because it fails to address the underlying issues. As Anderson (n.d.) points out, addressing the problem is key to conflict resolution. "When a conflict does happen, a manager needs to focus the conflicting parties on the issue and have them leave out any personal problems they may be having," (Anderson, n.d.).

Reflection Paper On Conflict

The conflict that I have chosen involves Jen, my old roommate, and recent living situation. Jen had a substance abuse problem with alcohol, which led her to living a life in a way that was not healthy. The purpose of this conflict is to show others that just because some issues can be resolved with proper management skills, there are some that we as individuals are not qualified to resolve. It is worthy of analysis because it deals with what I believe is an intractable issue that needed more than a resolution between two people. After evaluating this conflict, I can expect to break down future conflicts, manage them properly, and deeply understand the issue at hand.

Related Topics

Reflection: Managing Team Conflict In The Workplace

Written By:

Avatar for Will Clement

The Challenges of Managing Team Conflict In The Workplace

This reflection considers managing conflict in the workplace, and how to approach and channel it with purpose. There are thousands of conflict articles and publications that advise on resolution and termination of conflict in the workplace. Much of this is unnecessary and fails to consider the wider perspective that sometimes conflict can be useful.

The understanding of conflict can aid in areas such as effectiveness, challenge or viewing it from an ethical based perspective. Conflict is part of our everyday life both in and out of work. This, in part, is due to the difference in viewpoints and the necessity to perform tasks that sit uncomfortably with us.

Approaches can have a lasting impact on the way we acquire knowledge and information and how we approach solutions. Viewed differently, this view can be powerful and aid in attaining differing perspectives and therefore quality solutions.

A View of Conflict

When conflict occurs, there is an incompatibility of activities, our thoughts and our internal values. Values form through our early development and upbringing, comprising of our deeply held inner beliefs. From a people management perspective there are two types:

  • Inter-individual conflict – conflict viewed between two people.
  • Intra-individual conflict – this differs from the above as this would be conflict within the same person.

From a leadership perspective, the development of your people relies heavily on being able to spot patterns of behaviour. When team members are in their comfort zone you view behaviour that you would see when things are going well. Even in the stretch zone, you may still view activities as within their competence-base.

Some research suggests that there are no specific rules under which we can manage either circumstance effectively. This is very much down to the leader and the notion of when to step in and consider the situation. Intra-individual conflict is an interesting concept as when this occurs, it is purely down to the situation and the activity they perform. The important element here is to understand the behavioural changes. What signs are they displaying through their behaviour and when do you step in?

Behavioural Conflict

As with most roles we perform, there will be activities we enjoy and don’t. The approach we take and the behaviour we choose determines the behaviour we show. An argument regarding the competence of the individual, and to some degree, their maturity level will determine their behaviour. They may not like the activity yet view it as essential to moving on. Individuals may approach the task in a variety of ways, such as spreading the task out.

What is not acceptable is the approach of procrastination or purposeful delay of that task based on like and dislike. This is especially important to manage if this work holds up others. Managing intra-individual conflict requires discussion and an agreed working methodology. Adopting this could be the improvement of skills, task management or simply an explanation of why the work is necessary. The important thing is not to ignore it.

Managing the Conflict Trigger

How many times have we seen or heard managers view this scenario and avoid discussing the conflict? Avoiding a discussion is to miss an opportunity to dig deeper into the scenario. It doesn’t allow the individual to consider the conflict trigger. If the scenario is inter-individual, there is the opportunity to mine for the difference, to understand the conflict triggers. More than this, allowing the conflict to continue yet managing the environment could lead to creative solutions or a tighter process.

Businessman shouting into a white telephone

When faced with these incidents, it is appropriate to hit the pause button and recognise this with the team member. It may be the case that they hadn’t even noticed themselves that some inner conflict may have surfaced. It also allows leaders to consider the impact on the individual, an opportunity to know them and reflect together. Through this, we gain a deeper understanding that can only strengthen working relationships.

Types of Conflict

Certain types of conflict have no place in organisations. This type of conflict has a significant negative impact designed to hurt or discriminate. Conflict of this kind does require elimination as it has no place and no positive effect. Academics Karen Jehn and Allen Amason have identified types of conflict as:

  • Affective Conflict – Conflict that highlights the inconsistency in interpersonal relationships. This affects relationships and can interfere with performance due to the focus on the personal element.
  • Substantial Conflict – Conflict that occurs between two team or group members on a task issue. A moderate amount of this kind aids discussion and debate, aiming for higher performance or a better outcome.

Substantive conflict does require managing to ensure it does not stray into affective conflict. Positive conflict relating to disagreements on task, policy, and organisational issues are to be encouraged. This improvement is multi-faceted as it allows the leader to understand the source while enhancing performance and interactions. Within this interaction, there is a change from dysfunction into something useful and tangible.

The creativity that could be enabled here is an opportunity to enhance that difference of thought and approach. If the manager has a true investment in the team, then they should consider opportunities like these. Ultimately the manager has accountability over the final decision; however, this is less important than the actual transactions taking place.

Handling Conflict

Most of us experience conflict in some way during the day. Examples could be an aggressive driver, a news article that rubs against our values. If we consider relationship theory regarding conflict, it asks us to consider outward behaviour. Conflict appears through an inner value system. Elias Porter, PhD, calls this inner element our motivational value system.

We can also refer to this as our ‘self-worth’. Self-worth is our anchor. It comes from all kinds of influences. How we were brought up, how people of authority impacted on us and our own experiences. We act out our behaviour according to our self-worth. This becomes more nuanced as we mature and behaviour is normalised. You wouldn’t expect to see a manager stomping their feet because a decision has not gone their way! However, in this instance, our behaviour may change as we feel conflicted.

Actually handling and managing conflict in others takes real strength of awareness. Not only are we trying to manage our own behaviour, but we are also required to be observant of others. Through this observation, we can, over time, begin to understand the pattern and begin to appreciate the when and what.

The pattern for being effective is:

  • Awareness – viewing the conflict and knowing the triggers in the change of behaviour.
  • Understanding – knowing the behaviour change and the pattern that will follow.
  • Acceptance – appreciating that the individual(s) may react in a certain way and being prepared to treat this with respect.
  • Effectiveness – appropriately using the conflict pattern to great effect. Knowing when this could be personal and managing this for a better outcome.

Managing Conflict Tactically

Knowing that individuals may feel conflicted over a variety of scenarios can be difficult to constantly manage. Further to this, the expectation to manage this on every occurrence is not possible. A leader or a manager cannot be expected to ‘ be there ’ at every turn. This is akin to running to the teacher every time something happened we did not agree with. If we know, or at least have an idea when conflict may occur, we can tactically manage this.

If our aim is to be truly effective as a team, we each have a responsibility for managing ourselves and appreciating others. Quite often you will hear comments, such as, ‘ this will cause a fuss ’ or ‘ let’s see how this plays out with Alex ’. If we know the scenario will cause a reaction, we can prepare for it. In this instance, we can at least prepare the individual.

Team Management of Conflict

Through the development of the team, either a new team or an existing one, there usually is ample opportunity to view transactions. These will either be inter or intraindividual conflict and the observations are key. Relationship theory suggests we move through three areas of conflict, conflict one being the move from our ‘ normal ’ behaviour to three being deep conflict.

We view day to day behaviour in daily transactions when the behaviour that we are observing changes. This change in behaviour suggests that we need to defend our self-worth and therefore adopt differing behaviour. This can vary from person to person. Conflict is often misjudged as becoming aggressive, a typical view of anger is standing, raised voice and more animated. This is only one of three behaviours. Another type is becoming visibly upset and hurt, and the third, we move to fact finding mode trying to ascertain facts.

Conflict Adaptability

Dealing with stage one conflict asks us to observe the change in behaviour when it arises. The intention behind the behavioural change is viewed in three ways:

  • Needing to accommodate others – talking through the conflict with feeling and emotion.
  • Asserting oneself – dealing with the issue now and move on.
  • Analysing the situation – a factual approach to the conflict with emotion taken away.

These approaches are understood through the diagnostic Strength Deployment Inventory . This tool follows the relationship theory by Elias Porter. If we consider the above, we have three contrasting approaches to conflict. If we consider the accommodation of others and the factual approach, we have different needs and requirements. This, in itself, is the challenge, however, it is important to deal with it. To walk away is to ignore it.

Two people sitting on their respective chairs, having a conversation

The simplest way to consider managing the conflict is to recognise it and to ask the question, ‘how would you like to work through this?’ Even a direct approach would show an understanding of the behaviour change. Such as, ‘you seem conflicted, talk this through with me’. This provides respect and dignity to the individual through recognition of the conflict.

As stated, if the conflict comes from a task or an output, we have the opportunity to draw out creative responses. This approach is often seen as a ‘difficult conversation’ and yet provides the simplest of methods. The response of the individual can then be directed by them. In some cases, they will want to discuss the cause of the conflict. Other times will be to set the cause aside and discuss how they feel. Conflict adaptation requires an understanding of the situation and self-adjustment to move through the conflict.

Final Thoughts

The role of leader and manager is to ensure that we provide an environment based on authenticity, dignity and respect. Through this, we provide an arena that allows skills and capability to flourish for performance at the highest level. We all have self-motivations for achieving and this looks very different from person to person.

When we have tasks or people that don’t enable these motivations it can cause conflict. Some are allowable and enhance creativity, however, discriminatory conflict has no place. Managing conflict will be effective when you recognise and discuss the signs in a safe and purposeful environment. To ignore it is to shut out an important behavioural aspect, as well as, potentially, overlook an opportunity to understand.

The art of managing conflict is to observe, appreciate and act when this occurs. When acted upon and performed with purpose and respect, then this is the foundations of high performance.

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Imagine: Reflections on Peace – photo essay

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Colombia, Lebanon, Northern Ireland, and Rwanda, a new project and book by the VII Foundation, Imagine:Reflections on Peace shows the difficult work being done to break cycles of conflict in each country’s recent history. Survivors and photographers who witnessed events during and after the dark times, tell their stories

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“When battlefield prowess and political manipulation are not enough to achieve peace through victory, we summon our best and brightest to negotiate an end; we celebrate peace settlements; and we give prizes, if not to victors, then to visionaries. We exalt peace as a human achievement, and justly so. But the reality of peace is flawed. The rewards of peace are elusive for the men and women who live in the post-conflict societies of our time. Why is it so difficult to make a good peace when it is so easy to imagine?”

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Taraya, Lebanon - Chamran Hamieh [left], Hamza Akel Hamieh’s son, goes through his father’s collection of images from the civil war, stored in old suitcases in his home in the the Bekaa Valley. Hamza Akel became a legend in the Middle East after hijacking six planes between 1979 and 1982 -- a record to this day -- to draw the world’s attention to the kidnapping of Musa Sadr, his religious leader. One of the hijackings, in 1981, was among the longest in aviation history.

Chamran Hamieh [left], Hamza Akel Hamieh’s son, goes through his father’s collection of images from the civil war, stored in old suitcases in his home in the the Bekaa Valley, Taraya, Lebanon. Nicole Sobiecki

“In 2017 I travelled to Lebanon with writer Robin Wright to try and make sense of what peace means in a place so defined by conflict. As we met with former fighters and young creatives, I thought back to one of Aesop’s fables, The Oak and the Reed, and the countless storms this country has weathered without breaking. Peace here comes in shades of grey. It’s the reason to bend with the next wind, to endure, and to embrace the present despite the fire under the ashes.” Nicole Sobiecki

A Cambodian government soldier firing his outdated M1 carbine at the Khmer Rouge from a fox hole. Kien Svay, Route 1, Cambodia 1973.

A Cambodian government soldier firing his outdated M1 carbine at the Khmer Rouge from a fox hole. Kien Svay, Route 1, Cambodia 1973. Roland Neveu

“In 1973, I was a student in sociology in Brittany and was very motivated to experience the ills of our world first- hand. During the summer break, a friend and I dreamed of getting to Cambodia to hone our skills as burgeoning photographers. We managed to fly into Phnom Penh a couple of weeks ahead of the end of the US B-52 bombing of the country. That for me was a revelation in covering a conflict, a big leap after trailing my camera along the student protests of the early 1970’s in France. It also became a jumping off point from university and the entry into a career as a photojournalist. Reporting that war became a passion, and with the fall of Phnom Penh to the Khmer Rouge in April 75, it altered my life forever. Witnessing the tragedy of Cambodia over the years has taken me from the disembodiment of the country to the relatively prosperous time it has entered now. Peace has been a very long and tortuous road for the Cambodians, affecting many generations of its people.” Roland Neveu

During the heavy monsoon in September 1979, travelling in the forest of Western Cambodia with a group of Cambodian guerilla favourable to Prince Sihanouk. People were walking across the forest to reach the border with Thailand in search of aid. This family, in fact stopped in their tracks as I approach to photograph them.

During the heavy monsoon in September 1979, travelling in the forest of Western Cambodia with a group of Cambodian guerilla favourable to Prince Sihanouk. Photo by Roland Neveu. Right; Sophary Sophin, bomb disposal engineer. Photo by Gary Knight/VII

Cambodian opposition political activists (image left to right) Sin Chanpouraseth, Chay Vannak, Ney Leak and Douch Sovunth. Sin Chanpouraseth: “Children in rural Cambodia go to school for two hours, and often there are no teachers. I went to a university that closed because it was bankrupt, then I went into politics. Meanwhile in Phnom Penh the government builds skyscrapers. The well-being of the people doesn’t require skyscrapers, it requires jobs.

Cambodian opposition political activists (left to right) Sin Chanpouraseth, Chay Vannak, Ney Leak and Douch Sovunth. Photo by Gary Knight/VII

“The story of peace – much like the story of war – is personal. Everyone who lives through it has a different experience, and the breadth of those experiences cannot all be expressed within a photo essay. In creating this work, I revisited places that I have been visiting since the war of the 1980s and 1990s when I started my career in Cambodia. I spoke to men and women of all generations and wrote down what they told me. Some had lived through the civil war of the 1970s and the Khmer Rouge genocide that followed. All of them had lived through the years of violence and deprivation of the post-Khmer Rouge period. All had expectations of the peace that followed. For many, the reality of that peace was desperately inadequate. There are people in Cambodia for whom peace has been a great benefit, such as the family members and associates of the political classes, the military, and the police. No one would argue that peace has been less favorable than war, especially that war – but sit on a stool next to a Cambodian villager and ask about the peace, and the stories of suffering and injustice will soon begin to flow.” Gary Knight

An RPF soldier (Rwandan Patrioric Front) advancing in Gikoro district, 1994.

An RPF soldier (Rwandan Patrioric Front) advancing in Gikoro district, 1994. Jack Picone

“In 1994 as Rwanda was in the throes of genocide, I illegally crossed the Ugandan border to document one of recent history’s darkest events. I documented a broken country gouged, burnt, scarred and littered with corpses.

“Twenty-five years later, I revisited Rwanda and found a very different country. A country that carries the genocide with it in its collective memory but refuses to be defined by it. Instead, Rwandan people have been transformative and accomplished the impossible, turning the darkness of the genocide, into light.

The Amahoro Stadium, Kigali. During the genocide the stadium was temporarily a “UN Protected Site” hosting up to 12,000 mainly Tutsis refugees. A woman hangs her washing as shelling and killing continued outside the stadium walls.

The Amahoro Stadium, Kigali, 1994. During the genocide the stadium was temporarily a “UN Protected Site” hosting up to 12,000 mainly Tutsis refugees.

Alice Mukarurinda and Emanuel Ndayisaba. Ndayisaba admits to killing dozens of people during the genocide. Alice is one of his victims, left for dead in a swamp after he cut off her hand. Ndayisaba was imprisoned for his crimes, but under the laws of ‘Gacaca’; the local courts set up to encourage truth and reconciliation, he confessed to his murders and was released. He later recognised Alice and admitted to her it was he who had tried to kill her. In an unlikely partnership they have both reconciled and now work in a restorative group teaching reconciliation within the community. 2017

Alice Mukarurinda and Emanuel Ndayisaba. Ndayisaba admits to killing dozens of people during the genocide. Alice is one of his victims, left for dead in a swamp after he cut off her hand. Ndayisaba was imprisoned for his crimes, but under the laws of ‘Gacaca’; the local courts set up to encourage truth and reconciliation, he confessed to his murders and was released. He later recognised Alice and admitted to her it was he who had tried to kill her. In an unlikely partnership they have both reconciled and now work in a restorative group teaching reconciliation within the community.

“A country once gouged is now full, a country once broken is now whole and scars once obvious are fading. Rwanda’s transformation is squarely rooted in the Rwandan people’s unparalleled ability to forgive.” Jack Picone

Senad Medanovic, sole survivor of a massacre finds his home in ruins after the Bosnian army recaptured his village from Serb forces. He is standing on what is believed to be a mass grave of sixty-­‐nine people, including his family. 1995

Senad Medanovic, sole survivor of a massacre finds his home in ruins after the Bosnian army recaptured his village from Serb forces. He is standing on what is believed to be a mass grave of sixty-­nine people, including his family, 1995. Ron Haviv/VII

“What happens when 3.5 million people suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder for an entire generation? What happens when a whole nation – forged from an imposed peace agreement, with opposing sides forced to live together – can’t move beyond the past? Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country that continues to battle itself as it moves in a constant circle.

A defaced photograph that was found by a Bosnian family when they returned to their home in a suburb of Sarajevo, Bosnia, March 17, 1996. The Serbs who had occupied the house left as the city was reunified under the Muslim-led Bosnian government, taking the Bosnian family’s furniture and the rest of the belongings from the house and leaving only the photograph. Reflections on Peace

A defaced photograph that was found by a Bosnian family when they returned to their home in a suburb of Sarajevo, Bosnia, March 17, 1996.

Nedžiba Salihović, who lost her husband and son during the Srebrenica massacre, celebrates the conviction of Bosnian Serb General Ratio Mladic for his role in the genocide.

Nedžiba Salihović, who lost her husband and son during the Srebrenica massacre, celebrates the conviction of Bosnian Serb General Ratio Mladic for his role in the genocide.

“Memorials litter parks and hilltops. Conversations turn to politics and at a moment’s notice back to the war. The political parties remain the same as those that brought the conflict to fruition. There is no agreed-upon history of the war taught in schools. Children learn old grievances from their parents, ensuring that for many the war will always be a dividing line. Stories from the 1990s now take their place alongside older tales of war, those from the 14th century to World Wars I and II. Repressed anger and hatred simmer just beneath the surface. The pressing question: how can we use memory to move past the loss and create one nation for all Bosnians?” Ron Haviv

Northern Ireland Derry, North of Ireland, 1996. Reflections on Peace

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Northern Ireland Derry, North of Ireland, 1996. Gilles Peress/Magnum/for Imagine:Reflections on Peace

“In 1994, the Irish Republican Army and the Combined Loyalist Military Command declared ceasefires on behalf of the predominant paramilitary organizations in the North of Ireland. Political conversations had dragged on for decades, but the ceasefires kickstarted a process that eventually led to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and the cessation of active hostilities. Another 25 years on, no one knows if this will be permanent: There have been similar pauses throughout the 800-year British occupation of Ireland, and even the 1994 ceasefires proved neither lasting nor universal. But something unquestionably changed.”

12th of July Parade, City Centre, Derry, North of Ireland, 1996

12th of July Parade, City Centre, Derry, North of Ireland, 1996.

Short Strand, East Belfast, North of Ireland, 1994

Short Strand, East Belfast, North of Ireland, 1994.

“The previous 30 years had been dominated by the Troubles, a conflict defined not by violence but by the tension between the necessities of everyday life and periodic, inescapable eruptions of violence precipitated by the British Army, by Loyalists, and by Republicans. During this era, dark and full of murders, Gilles Peress defined the structure of history as helicoidal. Nothing seemed to progress or regress; rather, each day became a repetition of every previous day.” Gilles Peress (excerpt from The Battle for History, with Chris Klatell)

Residents of Ituango, Antioquia, a region that has suffered greatly from the armed conflict, converse outside a polling station on the day of the national plebiscite to approve or reject the peace treaty negotiated between Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) insurgents and the government

Residents of Ituango, Antioquia, a region that has suffered greatly from the armed conflict, converse outside a polling station on the day of the national plebiscite to approve or reject the peace treaty negotiated between Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) insurgents and the government. Stephen Ferry

“Colombia is a country where the Cold War combined with internal factors to create a human rights disaster, one which implicates all players in the Colombian armed conflict as well as United States foreign policy. I documented the Colombian conflict from 1997 to the signing of the Havana peace accords and then, of course, followed the peace process with great interest and hope.

Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos shakes hands with Rodrigo Londoño, alias “Timochenko,” top commander of the FARC insurgent army, at a celebration for the completion of the FARC’s disarmament.

Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos shakes hands with Rodrigo Londoño, alias “Timochenko,” top commander of the FARC insurgent army, at a celebration for the completion of the FARC’s disarmament.

Family members mourn during the funeral services for Wílmar Asprilla Allim, a FARC member who, after laying down arms, was participating in the organization of the FARC’s new political movement. Asprilla along with Ángel Montoya Ibarra were assassinated by presumed members of the neo-paramilitary group AGC, or Gaitanist Self-Defense Forces of Colombia while organizing a political meeting.

Family members mourn during the funeral services for Wílmar Asprilla Allim, a FARC member who, after laying down arms, was participating in the organization of the FARC’s new political movement.

“It’s too early to know whether Colombia has found its way out of a cycle of brutal internal wars, but certainly the signing of the peace accords is a big step forward.” Stephen Ferry

Fighters with the Free Syrian Army fire at regime forces on the front line in Qastal Al Harami, a section of the Old City in Aleppo, Syria, on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. Equipped with semi-automatic guns and few ways to fight back the Syrian Army, FSA rebels have, over the last year, resorted to making their own weapons.

Fighters with the Free Syrian Army fire at regime forces on the front line in Qastal Al Harami, a section of the Old City in Aleppo, Syria, on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. Nicole Tung

“To step into the wake of the war against Isis was to enter a dystopian world. As the circle closed in on the terrorist military group, first in Mosul, then in Raqqa, and then in their last redoubt in Baghouz, I travelled between newly liberated villages and cities. I went to document that vital moment between the end of a conflict and peace – the space where life begins to emerge. At first, everything seemed a blur of rubble, like a dark, smudgy water colour of a never-ending nightmare about war and how it forever mutilates lives.

Raqqa: In the Aftermath of ISISStudents are seen in class at the heavily damaged Hawari Bu Medyan School, in Raqqa, Syria. May 2018. The school is located opposite a building that was used by ISIS’s religious police, the Hisba, and was also the site of intense fighting during the offensive to retake the city from the extremist group. The school reopened in January 2018.

Students in class at the heavily damaged Hawari Bu Medyan School, in Raqqa, Syria. May 2018.

“But, very quickly, the streets buzzed back to life. I witnessed civilians, so utterly traumatized, do the only thing they knew how to do: go on and survive. It was dark, yet remarkable, to see the cautious hope among people who had lost everything. They know: peace is so incredibly fragile. Unless the marginalization of peoples in each country is addressed, unless resolution is brought to disputed territories, unless the systematic corruption that hinders everything from rebuilding to job creation is ended, peace can once again unravel with astonishing speed.” Nicole Tung

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Conflict Management Essay

Introduction, causes of conflict, change the culture and context of the conflict, listen actively and responsibly, acknowledge and integrate emotions to solve problems, search beneath the surface for hidden meaning, separate what matters from what gets in the way, stop rewarding and learn from difficult behavior, solve problems creatively, plan strategically, and negotiate collaboratively, explore resistance, mediate, and design systems for prevention.

Are you assigned to write an essay about conflict management, but don’t know where to start? Then, you are in the right place. Check out this sample on managing conflicts, its causes, and possible solutions.

Conflicts come as a result of disagreements. They are part of everyone’s life from childhood with parents, teenagers in school and usually carried on to the work place from home. The trends of business and organizational conflicts which are resulting into their breakdown and loss are an area that needs special attention to preserve and increase their profitability.

The solution to these problems is good management skills which can be implemented. This essay will discuss the conflicts between management and employees in organizations. It will include the eight strategies by Kenneth Cloke and Joan Smith in their book, “ Resolving Conflicts at work: Strategies for everyone on the job .”

The process involves, “organizational change, managing change, change implementation, multicultural, change resistance, readiness for change, coping with change, communication, involvement, middle management, case study, change factors, intercultural management and involving change agents” (Savolaien, 2011, p. 1).

The process of conflict management in organizations requires determination and participation of two parties, employees and the management.

In this essay leadership skills in management are emphasized to create efficiency. Poor communication within the work place where those employed are never involved or asked of their opinion is one source of conflict. This causes the employees not to rely on the employer but rather on the gossip.

Employees need a good working environment with adequate working equipment; with each employee’s work clearly defined. Failure of management to provide appropriate working conditions may lead to disagreement between the employees. The employees should also learn to understand each other, with respect while appreciating their work and personality.

This builds a strong team. If the leadership fails by being unfair or having poor values in an organization or business, this would be another source of conflict. To enhance harmony and team work the above factors must be put at the right place by the management (McNamara, n.d.).

National culture affects organizations. For an organization to grow it must keep on changing the old ways so as remain competitive. A problem in leadership management may be in form of failure of leaders to have adequate information on the business; thus lowering their competitiveness.

If employees complain of the problems in the working place without supervisors addressing the issue, the conflict continues to build pressure. The work and procedures of the business activities have an influence by values from the community (Cloke & Goldsmith 2005).

The cultures of societies are characterized by conflicts which come from various circles that shape our behaviors e.g. racism and economic conflicts (Cloke & Goldsmith, 2005). The beliefs of the people are usually taken to the organization. This is what brings differences between different countries with the same type of business organizations.

From research, it became clear that culture has an influence on organizations implying that there will be a great difference between organizations established in different places.

Failure of supervisors to involve other employees in decision making may bring conflict. This however may be as a result of the culture of the local people. The supervisors who like the way operations are run and not willing to change can be a hindrance to solving any problem.

To change the culture and involve the employees, while insisting on open communication and flexibility is a good way forward in solving organizational conflicts. The organization should decide to change, by implementing the changing strategies of their conflict approach (Savvolaien, 2011).

Communication is vital in every organization. Employees can bring success of the business. Satisfaction of the employees motivates them to have a greater output. Management concern about them will help them to have confidence in what they do. Listening to the employees is one of the greatest virtues that a manager can do to promote higher output of the employee (Business, 2010).

Openness of employees to management would help the managers to always get first hand information in most cases whether good or bad. Being clear on expectations of employees on their work enables them to avoid any confusion. This helps employees to become more responsible. Guidance in their work builds confidence in their work and helps increase their efficiency (Business, 2010).

After listening to the employees, the manager should have in mind that the employees are meant to implement the plan for change. Appreciating information given by employees help them to respond positively to the strategy that is laid in place. The manager should design a strategy that helps the employees to fulfill their needs as they promote growth of business organization.

Visiting the employees at their working place is the starting place to promote openness. It is important that a manager should know how they feel about the work and what they wish the management could do for them.

A manager should be keen to evaluate performance of employees. It is recommended for managers to discuss with their employees regarding their goals and hear their views and how they feel about their progress. Furthermore, the employer should be empathetic to the employees and should be concerned of any problem with their employees (Business, 2010).

Conflicts cause people to act against their wishes. For example people may speak and act against what they think. This is because of thinking that there may be no solution to the problem encountered. “Conflict processes dark, hypnotic, destructive power: the power of attachment when it is time to leave…” (Cloke & Goldsmith 2005, p. 21).

This means that management should work from the grassroots to solve any problem and not just superficially. Knowing the root cause of the problem helps in effective planning as one realizes, “ If you listen closely, you will discover that beneath every insult and accusation lies a confession, and beneath every confession lies a request” (Cloke & Goldsmith 2005, p. 8).

This helps in building mutual trust and respect. This relationship can only be build by having effective communication between the employees and the management (Business, 2010).

The concern of management should focus on the future. Unnecessary questions on who was right or wrong should not come between the management and employees. This means the management should keep focus on the solution to the problem but not concentrating on non beneficial arguments (Perkins, 2010).

The action taken by management to solve a conflict between employees should always seek the best and just action. Managers should speak straight to the point; to the person who causes a conflict. Those who fail to do right after repeated counsel should be fired and leave the rest of the workers with peace.

Listening to employees gives direction to deal with the opponents, by stopping to reward them and learning from their difficult behaviors (Cloke & Goldsmith, 2005). This means seeking for new strategies to deal with the opponents so as to stop rewarding them. Failure to plan and apply new strategies to solve problems makes the conflict to have deep roots in the organization as well as creating a bad culture (Cloke & Goldsmith, 2005).

To manage conflicts in an organization, management should have clear values, vision, mission and objectives. Seeing opportunities to solve the problems; with a positive attitude assists in effective implementation. It requires a lot of effort to deal with an opposition.

The management should therefore work so as to reach a certain goal of an agreement or disagreement (Cloke & Goldsmith, 2005). This means they should have a plan of talking to the employees as well as the necessary action to the opponent employee with fairness and justice.

Conflict management means dealing with the conflict till the end of it. If any resistance is seen in the process of solving a conflict it is a good opportunity to dismiss fears of employees. It is an indication of dissatisfaction; probably they were not included in the implementation or they were not involved in the process. If employees feel they had been undermined, they can bring resistance. Thus, communication remains paramount in the whole process of solving a problem (Nermin, 2011).

Business organizations will always encounter conflict from one time to another. Employees and management culture can be a hindrance to conflict management. Culture should therefore be considered in the planning of resolving any conflict. Managers should enhance transparency in their organizations and good leadership skills in conflict management. This would result in justice as well as the growth of business organization.

Business. (2010). How to actively listen to your employees . Web.

Cloke, K. & Goldsmith, J. (2005). Resolving conflicts at work: eight strategies for everyone on the job . New York, NY: John Wiley and sons.

McNamara, C. Basics of Conflict Management . Web.

Nermin, A. (2011). Enhance Your Leadership Skills- Build Trust & Resolve Conflict . Web.

Perkins, K. (2010). Proactive Steps to turn around workplace disputes . Web.

Savolaien, T. (2011). Challenges of Intercultural Management, Change Implementation in The Context of National Culture . Web.

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A Reflection on Global Peace and Conflict

peace and conflict

Conflicts have become a norm in the entire world.  Although small conflicts may be ignored, yet leaving them unresolved can and does lead to major wars. As a result, death, desperation and destruction steal the show. The survival of the fittest becomes the order of the day: “the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must”

Interestingly, the conflicts are expected to bring peace. Can conflicts pave way for peace? Perhaps not, because the task is not easy and successful conflict resolution demands the exercising of political consensus and dialogue with all the parties to the conflict.

Globalization has brought countries closer together. There are economic, social, cultural and political relations at the global level. Moreover, an individual, a group and a country seek wealth and power at the cost of the others’ loss and pain. Such a state of affairs has always complicated the peacemaking efforts.

Millions of people move across countries and continents for work, business, education and leisure.  However, there are no widely shared collective values and norms that harmonize interpersonal and inter-community relations and reduce tensions, competition and violent conflict.

The tragedy is- human relationships with economy, social structure, culture and politics have become conflict-ridden. No effective and efficient global institution has come up to partially or fully addresses the worsening relationships. The UN apparently has become a paper tiger because it is not able to control the behavior of its member states. So, conflicts and violence have prevailed, leaving millions of people dead, injured, homeless and refugees.

For a long time, we have seen marvelous economic growth in many countries but the overall result has been a greater concentration of wealth in the hands of a few countries. The people with capital and technology travel the world for opportunities to make more money.

On the other hand, more and more people under increasing economic and social pressure are migrating across national borders to find lucrative jobs in order to meet the basic needs of their families. Migrants are facing exploitation and violation of their rights.

The strengthening of economic, political, cultural and human contacts in the whole world have not decreased tensions, misunderstandings, and conflict among people but have only increased them. Yes, increased human contacts are important but they have pushed things from bad to worse. The reasons are economic pressures and a desire to earn as much as possible through shortcut methods.

Liberal democratic social setups have identified the new possibilities for adopting collective solutions to big problems created by recent developments. At the same time, the same problems have created popular movements that do not see that greater cooperation among communities and countries.

Nationalist or sectarian political movements and violent ethnoreligious campaigns in different parts of the world seem to be in no mood to have a world where diverse human societies cooperate to share the resources in a manner to satisfy different human needs.  

So today, the political battle in many countries is among those who advocate global cooperation based on universal human values and democratic principles on the one hand and populist demagogues who mobilize disgruntled marginalized populations based on nationalist rhetoric and divisions in society on the other hand.

While the former argue for the creation of an equitable, harmonious and just world order, the latter are determined to create inward-looking, nationalist political regimes that are more than likely to generate conflicts both within and outside their national borders.

Today, the leaders of most of the countries have agreed to work together to follow several global agreements on sustainable development and climate change together with global institutions and civil society organizations.

In view of the inter-dependent nature of the world today, there is a dire need of working towards a just, equitable, harmonious and sustainable global socio-economic order rather than enter into a period of inter-state conflict over natural resources, jobs and markets.

The emergent global consensus on sustainable development and climate change is encouraging .This consensus has come up because of scientific work done by both natural and social scientists in many parts of the world. However, there are large groups of people that can be mobilized by populist politicians to support or establish highly divisive nationalist regimes which seemingly offer surprising solutions to complex issues.

Meanwhile, the new US president Donald J. Trump has made a dramatic shift in US policy towards the word, in particular, to the Muslim world. He seems to have given a strong message to Muslims that they are enemies of America. This bears resemblance to Adolf Hitler’s attitude towards the Jews whom he considered as the enemies of Germany. Hitler’s actions created the conditions for the outbreak of World War II.

Trump’s ‘America first’ policy may create a new world order. That together with the fierce fight for resources at the global level may lead to more conflicts and wars. The end result will be a social order which is devoid of justice, harmony and lasting peace.

Need is that the international community adopts an unbiased and apolitical approach towards the fierce conflicts going on in various parts of the world, understands their root causes and makes sincere efforts to resolve them. The key to peacemaking is doing justice, not doing violence. The world has lost enough lives and resources through conflict, war and violence. It is time to act peacefully to have peace. It is time to live and let live.

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Reflective Essay On Conflict Management

conflict reflection essay

Show More Completing the assessment on conflict management I was able to determine my conflict management style from highest to lowest. My highest conflict handling style was compromising with avoiding being my lowest. During the assessment questions I based my answers on how I would handle situations at work. At work I approach conflicts in a manner in which is best for the company, achieves a long term solution and what option is the most financially feasible. At times this means compromising to achieve the best results or collaborating with other departments. (1) Upon review of the results of my conflict management style assessment I was not overly surprised by the outcome. My strongest attribute was a compromising approach. The goal of compromising is an “I win some, You win some” result. I find this to be accurate to my style. I have always seen both sides to a situation and in doing so am able to sacrifice something on my end to achieve an end result …show more content… In my opinion these two styles of conflict management are relatively similar to each other. Both result in a goal where both parties involved win to some degree. In compromising both parties sacrifice some of their goals for each to effectively win some. Whereas in collaborating, conflicts are resolved by finding creative solutions for a win-win solution for both parties, allowing each party to get what they need. The relationship between the parties plays an important role in conflict management in all of the approaches. In compromising the goal is to maintain the relationship between the parties involved while each sacrifices some part of their goal. While in collaboration, the value of the relation is held high and important to both parties. As a result both parties involved respect and trust each other to achieve winning results for all

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The chapter displays why conflict arises and ways to deal with it or try to eliminate it. However, the chapter also expands on conflict and mentions ways to turn conflict into an asset which aligns with the videos principles. The textbook mentions how if we want to be good leaders it is important to be creative and adaptable when it comes to dealing with conflict. Also, the textbook mirrors the video in mentioning the importance of being aware of the conflict that is present and addressing it or coming up with a plan for it. Charles states that we need to name the difference as a conflict and address it.…

NCIS Interpersonal Conflict Analysis

The first conflict was described in our text as avoidance, which occurs when there is a low concern for yourself and a low concern for the other party (Bevan & Sole, 2014). When our style is to avoid conflict, we believe that if we just ignore an issue, it will go away. The second conflict style that was seen was compromise, in which there is a moderate concern both for yourself and for the other person. Compromising in conflict involves some gains and some losses for both parties. The individuals in the conflict work together to create a fair solution that is acceptable for both of them, but that also means that no one gets entirely what he or she wants (Bevan & Sole, 2014).…

What Is Accommodating Conflict Resolution Style

According to the conflict quiz posted on Blackboard, I have an accommodating conflict resolution style. This conflict resolution style means that I prefer to sacrifice my goals and beliefs to avoid conflict with team members. The accommodating conflict resolution style allows for relationships between group members to be unstrained and preserved. I believe that this is my conflict resolution styles because every team or group I have been a part of I do not share my opinions for the sake of avoiding an argument or disagreement. When in groups I prefer for everyone to get along because it allows for meetings to run smoother.…

Assessment 2 Ambiguity: My Basic Personalities

my competing score was a 12, my collaborating score was 17, my avoiding score was 13, my accommodating score was 14, and my compromising score was 16. My preferred conflict handling style is collaborating. On assessment six “What’s my Negotiating Style?” I scored a 27. Experts in negotiation generally recommend individuals use a style that will result in a high score on this test (Robbins,…

Virtual Team Performance

Wilmot & Hocker (2001) define conflict as a struggle between communicating parties due to the perception of incompatible goals, scarce resources, and interference from others while achieving goals. Conflict is an inevitable part of business; thus, teams must look for the right strategy to manage and resolve conflict and maintain positive working relationships among team members. Numerous research and studies have been dedicated to the study of conflict management styles (Hample and Dallinger, 1995 and Wilmot and Hocker, 2001) and their implication for relational outcomes. I assume many people in our class will describe the specific steps in resolving a conflict in a similar way; therefore, let me take an alternative way to address this issue.…

Compromise Mode In Nursing

In the compromise mode, everyone gives something up and finds a half way point. With the creative problem solving mode solutions are found so everybody feels like winners. This is attained by having private conversations in a neutral place, showing respect and empathy, have factual not emotional conversations, listen to each other with intent and find solutions everyone can agree upon (Huber,…

Thomas Killman Conflict Style Essay

Thomas Killmann Conflict Style Assessment is useful for understand how an individual responded to a conflict situation. There are five different ways in which an individual deals with conflicts: (Fayard) The Thomas Killmann’s Conflict Style assessment of the team is as seen in the figure below. At this moment, the two members furious were Haukur and me.…

Conflicts: The Most Effective Team Leader

Conflicts are a part of everyday life. Conflict is when two opinions or ideas are incompatible, which can be between separate parties or within a single person. When conflicts arise they can cause strong, negative emotions, but they also provide an opportunity for growth. Conflict management is the ability to handle conflicts and identify fair, logical, efficient, and effective solutions. Proficient conflict management skills are a necessity for competent team leaders.…

Essay On Conflict Resolution Styles

I always viewed myself as a person who handled conflict in a compromising and collaborating way, however according to the Thomas-Kilmann test I actually identify more with the competing and collaborating. With that being said, I was surprised to match up to one my conflicts I tend to strive for which was collaborating, despite this my second top was competing. In all reality I figured I would most likely match up with competing. Even though knowing that deep down I was still shock that it was one of my top two conflict resolution styles.…

A Critical Analysis Of The Satisfaction Triangle

People who use the competing style want to be respected for who they are and what they know. Comprising is having a high concern for personal wants and others, but taking in consideration the goal, believes everyone should give a little. It is basically realizing and being okay with not getting everything wanted. Lastly, collaborating is everyone listening to each other, and coming up with a solution together. I think depending on the situation and who the conflict is with, determines the response/conflict handling style…

Constructive And Destructive Conflict Essay

Conflict is defined as a difference of ideas or opinions. In a team or organization consisting of people from different backgrounds and with different skills, perspective and experience, it is possible to form some conflicts. According to Scott (1967), conflict may be in two forms, constructive and destructive. Constructive conflict is when one level of conflict may key to up for superior performance while destructive conflict is intense or prolonged conflict. Too much conflict may cause worry or fear, hamper work performance, and in some cases led to physical and mental illness.…

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Conflict in Literature

This essay about the role of conflict in literature, emphasizing its profound impact on characters and readers alike. It explores various types of conflict, from man versus man to man versus nature, highlighting how these struggles shape characters and narratives. Through examples from classic literature, it demonstrates how conflicts reflect universal human experiences and existential questions. Ultimately, the essay argues that literary conflict serves as a powerful tool for introspection and understanding the complexities of human nature.

How it works

At the heart of every captivating story lies a pulsating core of conflict, a fundamental driving force that sweeps characters into motion and shapes the contours of narrative arcs. Conflict in literature isn’t merely a hurdle for characters to overcome; it is the crucible within which characters are forged, tested, and ultimately transformed. Whether pitted against another character, society at large, natural forces, or their own inner demons, characters’ struggles can hold a mirror up to our own lives, making literature a profound exploration of human experience.

When dissecting the anatomy of literary conflict, we recognize several predominant types, each serving unique functions within storytelling. The most direct and often most visceral is man versus man. This conflict is straightforward but deeply complex in its implications. It’s the clashing of wills, a battleground where characters confront their adversaries face-to-face. Consider the epic showdowns in novels like Alexandre Dumas’ “The Count of Monte Cristo.” The protagonist, Edmond Dantès, faces a myriad of enemies on his quest for vengeance. Each confrontation reveals layers of his character and those of his adversaries, peeling back to expose raw ambitions, fears, and moral complexities.

Yet, not all conflicts are waged on external fronts. Man versus self presents a labyrinthine internal struggle, a dialogue within a single mind. Here, literature dives into the psyche, presenting characters grappling with their own fears, desires, and doubts. In “Hamlet,” Shakespeare masterfully explores such internal conflict. Hamlet’s soliloquies reveal his introspections and debates over moral and existential dilemmas. His internal struggle is a poignant study of the human condition, touching on themes of duty, vengeance, life, death, and the authenticity of action.

Contrasting with the inward focus of man versus self, man versus nature sets characters against the indiscriminate might of the natural world. Jack London’s “The Call of the Wild” is a prime example, where the harsh, unforgiving wilderness becomes both a stark adversary and a catalyst for Buck’s primal transformation. This conflict type not only highlights survival but also explores the fundamental nature of existence, stripping characters down to their barest instincts and desires.

The man versus society conflict often sees characters entangled with the laws, norms, and cultural pressures of their communities. Dystopian novels like Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” employ this conflict type to critique and examine societal structures. Protagonist Offred’s battle against a repressive regime questions the themes of freedom, identity, and resistance, providing a dark vision of patriarchy and power.

These conflict types are not just isolated silos; they often intertwine within a narrative, layering the story with multiple dimensions of struggle. The complexity arises not merely from the conflict itself but from how the characters navigate these challenges. Their responses, successes, and failures paint a rich tapestry of human resilience and adaptability.

Literary conflicts are more than plot devices; they are reflections of universal existential and philosophical questions. Through them, authors probe deep truths about human nature and societal functions. The conflicts force characters to confront their deepest fears, question their values, and in the process, often reveal profound truths about the human experience. This reflective quality is what makes literature resonate across ages and cultures.

The enduring relevance of these conflicts in literature also speaks to their foundational role in human society. They are timeless because the fundamental challenges they represent—struggles with morality, identity, authority, and existence—are perennial human concerns. As society evolves, so too do the manifestations of these conflicts, but their core essence remains unchanged, acting as a continuous thread woven through the fabric of all human stories.

Conflict in literature also invites readers into a participatory role. As we navigate through the conflicts with the characters, we are prompted to reflect on our own choices and challenges. This vicarious experience can be both cathartic and enlightening, offering us insights into our own lives and the world around us. It is through the lens of conflict that literature achieves its most profound impact, serving not only as entertainment but as a powerful medium of reflection and introspection.

In sum, literary conflict is the dynamo that powers narratives, propelling characters into action and readers into deep engagement with the text. It is a multifaceted tool that writers use to explore the complexities of life and human nature. By examining these conflicts, we gain a deeper appreciation for literature’s ability to delve into the human spirit and emerge with universal truths that resonate with readers across time and place. The exploration of conflict in stories is not just about observing struggles; it’s about understanding the essence of what it means to be human.

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Personal Reflections in Conflict Resolution Essay

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TOPIC: Essay on Personal Reflections in Conflict Resolution the Critical Assignment

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