A close collaborator of the lock-in is the „Take it or leave it“ offer. This is a common approach in negotiations, but it does not promote joint problem solving. One possible answer is to ignore them and continue to negotiate – perhaps by introducing other solutions. Then, when a new deal is reached, try to find ways to save face to get the other party out of their „take it or leave it“ position. Whether you have a roommate voluntarily, out of necessity, or through the random selection process of your school`s housing office, it`s important to be able to get along with the person who shares your living space. Although a roommate offers many benefits, such as . B making a new friend, having someone to live with a new situation like university life and having someone to share the cost with on your own, there are also challenges. Some common conflicts with roommates include cleanliness, noise, guests, property sharing, value conflicts, money conflicts, and personality conflicts (Ball State University, 2001). Read the following scenarios and answer the following questions for each scenario: The goal of entering a negotiation process is to reach an agreement. This is the agreed outcome of the process, and for it to last, it must be a strong agreement. Here are some ideas on what makes a strong deal. Settlement agreements are usually drafted by one or more of the following: Who do you currently have the greatest conflict with? Your answer to this question probably depends on the different contexts of your life. If you still live at home with a parent or parents, you may have daily conflicts with your family as you try to balance your autonomy or desire for independence with the practical aspects of life under the aegis of your family.
If you`ve recently moved to college, you may be negotiating roommate conflicts while getting used to living with someone you may not know at all. You also probably have experience in managing conflicts in romantic relationships and in the workplace. So think about it again and ask yourself, „How well do I handle conflict?“ As in all areas of communication, we can improve if we have the basic knowledge to identify relevant communication phenomena and the motivation to reflect and improve our communication skills. The next task is to set the agenda for the negotiations. The parties should identify the broad thematic areas of their concerns, identify specific issues and decide on the order in which these issues are discussed. Conflicts differ in the complexity and ambiguity of their themes. In general, conflicts are based on interest or value. Values-based conflicts are less likely to compromise and integration, so mediators should avoid describing disputes as differences in value where possible. The problem-solving activity is called framing or cropping. Mediators help the parties design problems in such a way that effective problem solving is possible.
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