There can be many strategies used when trying to resolve problems. Resolving problems is most successful when there is good collaboration between everyone involved. This promotes healthy relationships and discussions. Common strategies used to resolve problems are:
- Collaborative problem solving: This involves people working together to come up with a solution to issue or concern being addressed.
- Negotiation: This involves people exploring the issues and trying to find common ground that may be the basis for a successful resolution. This may involve give and take from all individuals involved.
- Conciliation: this is a process that involves a third party to help guide the process. The conciliator usually meets with the parties, one at a time, and functions as a go-between.
- Mediation: this is a voluntary process involving a third party that has been agreed upon both sides. It is a more formal process than conciliation.
- Arbitration/Adjudication: an outside third party is used and that third party makes the decision upon which the problem will be resolved.
- Legal recourse: this is the more formal process. This involves taking a case to court where lawyers, judges, and a jury work to make a decision on the topic being addressed.