However, if venting is directed in the form of personal or physical attacks this is abuse and no one should be subjected to abusive situations. Using the ground rules can help in preventing verbal attacks and provide guidelines for constructive venting. During intense conflict, some people s emotions may dominate their actions. If this occurs, ask the group for a break from the discussion to keep your emotions in check go to the restroom, get a drink of water, go outside for a few minutes. A useful technique for separating people from the problem is to think in terms of perception, emotion, and communication.
Conflict ultimately lies in people s heads, their perceptions.
Understanding how one perceives the conflict opens the way to a possible solution. As stated earlier, its important to keep emotions in check but it is equally important to understand both your and the other person s emotions or feelings. If you don t actively listen and understand the other person s concerns than you don t fully understand the entire conflict. Separating people from the problem is not something you do only once and forget about it, it requires continuous work. The best approach is to deal with people as human beings and deal with the problem on its merits, or the underlying interests behind the conflict.