How can you prioritize conflicts based on their impact?

1 Define impact

Impact is the potential or actual effect of a conflict on your work, goals, or stakeholders. It can be positive or negative, depending on how the conflict is handled and resolved. Some examples of positive impact are improved communication, innovation, or collaboration. Some examples of negative impact are missed deadlines, reduced quality, or damaged relationships. To prioritize conflicts based on their impact, you need to consider both the magnitude and the likelihood of the impact, as well as the timeframe and the scope of the impact.

2 Use a matrix

A useful tool to prioritize conflicts based on their impact is a matrix that plots the magnitude and the likelihood of the impact on two axes. The magnitude refers to how significant the impact is, and the likelihood refers to how probable the impact is. You can use a scale of 1 to 5 for both dimensions, where 1 is low and 5 is high. Then, you can categorize the conflicts into four quadrants: high magnitude-high likelihood, high magnitude-low likelihood, low magnitude-high likelihood, and low magnitude-low likelihood. The conflicts in the first quadrant are the most critical and should be addressed as soon as possible, while the conflicts in the last quadrant are the least important and can be ignored or postponed.

3 Consider timeframe and scope

Another factor to consider when prioritizing conflicts based on their impact is the timeframe and the scope of the impact. The timeframe refers to how long the impact will last, and the scope refers to how many people or areas will be affected by the impact. For example, a conflict that has a short-term and limited impact may not be as urgent as a conflict that has a long-term and widespread impact. You can use a scale of 1 to 5 for both dimensions, where 1 is short and narrow and 5 is long and broad. Then, you can multiply the timeframe and the scope scores to get a composite score that reflects the overall severity of the impact. The higher the score, the higher the priority of the conflict.

4 Apply the framework

To prioritize conflicts based on their impact, you need to follow a few steps. First, identify the conflicts you are currently facing or anticipate in your work. Then, estimate the magnitude and likelihood of the impact for each conflict on a scale of 1 to 5. Plot the conflicts on a matrix according to their scores and estimate the timeframe and scope of the impact using a scale of 1 to 5 as well. Multiply the timeframe and scope scores to get a composite score for each conflict and rank them from highest to lowest. Finally, focus on resolving the conflicts with the highest scores first, while delegating, deferring, or discarding those with lower scores.

5 Review and adjust

Prioritizing conflicts based on their impact is not a one-time exercise, but a continuous process that requires regular review and adjustment. As the situation changes, the impact of the conflicts may also change, and you need to update your assessment and your action plan accordingly. You also need to monitor the outcomes of your conflict resolution efforts and evaluate whether they have reduced or increased the impact of the conflicts. By prioritizing conflicts based on their impact, you can optimize your resources, time, and energy, and achieve better results in your work.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?