Alisa Camplin: How to deal with conflict

Conflict is an unpleasant experience that everyone goes through – whether it arises in the moment, or as an ongoing issue that hasn’t yet resolved itself. Additionally, because conflicts are common, we have an opportunity to prepare for them – especially around Christmas time.

There is a lot of pressure around the holiday period, and the gap between expectations and reality can lead to frustration and, potentially, conflict. Carrying an awareness of the stress of the season can help you to manage tense situations before they arise.

Let’s start by examining spontaneous disputes that arise out of nowhere – often in social situations (like a Christmas party). In that scenario, the way things progress will depend at least in part on your ability to be resilient and adapt in the moment. But there’s also a checklist of questions you can ask yourself that will help you to evaluate the situation.

1. Is this issue important to me?

Take a step back and assess things objectively. Is this really an important issue? Maybe someone has brought up politics, or something that’s in the news. At that point, you need to decide whether it’s something that needs to be pursued right now.

2. What does this person mean to me?

Are you talking to your brother-in-law, where you can possibly keep things cordial? Or are you talking to your mother, where it’s something that needs to be resolved immediately? Depending on your relationship, it might pay dividends to work through the issue in the moment. Otherwise, you may be better served by changing the topic and steering the conversation away from potential areas of conflict.

3. Does this need to be resolved right now?

Many factors will impact this decision. It might be late at night when tempers are frayed. There might be children around. If it’s a festive event, there might be alcohol involved. Once you’ve assessed the setting at hand, you can make a choice. Do you try to diffuse the situation? Do you decide to walk away? Or, do you step into the space of conflict? If you choose to enter that space, try and take the emotion away and be practical as well as factual.

4. Is there someone else that can help right now?

Perhaps you can mediate conflict by saying something as simple as, “Hey, why don’t we get a third party to come in?”. To give a light-hearted example, maybe your mum can help to decide who cuts the turkey this year. Sometimes a fresh outlook can defuse potential conflicts before they ever take place.

5. Can I see this issue from their perspective?

If you can use empathy to place yourself in the other person’s position, and vice-versa, you’re more likely to take the heat out of things. By viewing the situation from different angles, you can bring down your emotions and you might just find that the conflict is about something entirely different to what you initially thought.

Rather than dealing with spontaneous conflict, perhaps you’re in a situation where the same scenario (or person) is likely to flare up every year at the family Christmas event. Maybe one side of the family believes in something different to the other, or so-and-so’s partner is always rude. Whatever it is, you can prepare yourself to handle it adequately.

1. Create a plan

Based on your past experience, you’ll have a sense of what’s coming. Break down what you can expect and have a plan to deal with it. Let’s say it’s someone who always goads you. You need to ask yourself how you’re going to manage that. How are you going to stay calm? Is there a way that you can remove yourself from the environment? Maybe you can discretely approach the host in the lead-up to the event and ask to be seated at a different part of the table. At a minimum, you should always have three ways you can remove yourself from a situation. Try, “I’m sorry, I just need to go to the bathroom.” Or, “Apologies, I’ve just promised Dad that I’d lend a hand.”

2. Practise that plan

Personally, I’ve had a situation where an ex-boyfriend’s mother always made my life difficult with little remarks. I prepared myself for the next encounter and when she made a comment, I was able to let her know that it didn’t make me feel good. You do need to be conscious of whether or not you have the right plan for the right time, though. In talking the steps through with a friend or partner, you may realise that it’s not the right approach for certain situations. Being more aware and ready will increase your confidence and chances of success.

3. Try to let things go

Sometimes you need to learn when to cut your losses and walk away, because not everything is resolvable. I’m a big believer in not carrying toxicity with you, and in minimising the role of people who bring toxicity into our lives. Focus on what you can control. Maybe you can try and let go in the moment, or agree to disagree on whatever the issue is. If possible, you could all decide to put your differences aside for the sake of Christmas time.

You need to find some sense of closure with your efforts. It’s essential you reassure yourself that you’ve done what you can while keeping a priority on your own wellbeing. It can be difficult, but sometimes you might need to take a step back from a relationship that’s causing stress and conflict.

Relationships aren’t always forever, and we all go through different life phases. At various points in your life, you may find yourself spending time with other people – and that’s okay. If you’re dealing with friendship or family circles that are interrelated, try to find a respectful way to communicate your need for space. Do your best to be mature and strive to avoid burning bridges.

A former world champion aerial skier, Alisa Camplin made sporting history in 2002 as the first ever Australian woman to win gold at the Winter Olympics. After 18 years as a global corporate executive, Alisa now juggles a mix of sport, business, consulting, charity and governance roles. No stranger to physical and emotional trials, Alisa runs Resilience and High Performance programs to assist others in achieving their full potential. Awarded the prestigious Order of Australia medal, Alisa is passionate about mental wellbeing and helping people thrive. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a financial adviser or medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.