In the The Third Side, William Ury suggests several concrete steps that you can take to start mobilizing the third-side approach to tackle nagging conflicts.
Start Close to Home
Look for opportunities in conflicts to play a helpful third-side role with friends, family members, and neighbors, whether it’s mediating a dispute over a home renovation or coaching a kid’s sporting team.
Change the Story
Though a problem may seem intractable, assume that you can help make things better. Start off by talking about the conflict in positive terms.
Learn Some Skills
Take a class or read a book on negotiation. Urge your company to bring in professional coaches. Commit to lifelong learning to improve your negotiation skills.
Mediate Your Own Disputes
Confront the conflict in your own life, and apply the lessons learned to the disputes of others.
Fill a Missing Role
Use your strengths to help others in the most appropriate way. Figure out what help is needed and fill the role yourself.
Create a Winning Alliance
Recruit help and build a team. You can’t – and shouldn’t – do it all yourself.
