Conflict Resolution

Conflict is a normal, healthy, everyday occurrence. Successfully resolving conflicts can provide opportunities for growth, development, and learning. Berklee is committed to helping students mediate and resolve interpersonal conflicts while providing students with the skills to successfully navigate conflicts throughout their lives.

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Conflict Coaching and Mediation

What Is Mediation?

Mediation is a formal conversation between two or more people, facilitated by a trained staff member whose role is to be a neutral guide through the conversation. Mediations are great opportunities for all parties involved in a conflict to voice their concerns while working together to find a solution.

Mediators don't take sides. Mediation helps people reach agreements. Everyone is heard during a mediation.

What Is Conflict Coaching?

Students can schedule an informal one-on-one meeting with a staff member to help create their personal conflict style or to discuss an ongoing conflict they're having with someone. Conflict coaching is a great option for students who may not want to have a formal mediation, but are looking for help to navigate an ongoing conflict on their own.

A one-on-one conversation:

creates a road map for navigating the conflict on your own.
builds and strengthens skills used to support people's ability to engage in, manage, or resolve conflict.

To request conflict coaching or mediation, email CommunityStandards@Berklee.edu.

Additional Resources

Conflict Resolution Support

Request conflict coaching or formal mediation with Community Standards and Conflict Resolution using this form.

Housing and Residential Education Staff

If you are having a conflict with your on-campus roommate or a hall community member, your resident advisor and residence director are great resources to help resolve it. These staff members are trained to help students find solutions to conflicts to ensure that everyone has a successful living, learning environment.

Conflict Styles

There are five common approaches to conflict. While everyone has one style they use more often, each approach can be useful in certain situations. You can take this conflict styles assessment to learn more about your own personal conflict style.

Tips for Managing Conflict

Use your words. In order to resolve a conflict, you need to talk about what you're experiencing and feeling. Use "I" statements to express exactly how you're feeling.
Listen to understand, not respond. Actively listen to what the other person is saying. Don't try to think of your response while the other person is speaking, or you're going to miss key parts and may cause the conflict to continue.
Consider impact versus intent. Remember, it is about the impact you had on a person, not your intent. You may not have intended to hurt or offend someone, but if that was what happened, you may need to think about how you're saying something.
Restate what you heard. Summarizing what someone said is a great way to ensure that everyone understands each other and is on the same page.
Take time out. Know when it's time to take a break or ask for help. Sometimes you cannot resolve a conflict in one conversation or on your own. Community Standards and Conflict Resolution is a great resource to mediate and resolve conflicts. To request a meeting, complete this form (login required).