Conflict Resolution Script

For when two teammates clash, or tension surfaces live in a meeting. This script walks you through a short, structured mediation: prepare privately, set ground rules, hear each side uninterrupted, find the shared goal underneath the disagreement, and leave with owned actions and a check-in date. Use it before positions harden.

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Step 1 — Prepare (before the conversation)

Speak to each person privately first; note the facts vs. the emotions.
Book a neutral room and 45 uninterrupted minutes.
Clarify your role: facilitator, not judge, no pre-decided winner.
Define what "good" looks like: a working agreement, not a friendship.

Step 2 — Open with Ground Rules

"We're here to solve a work problem together. A few ground rules: one person speaks at a time, we describe behaviors not character, and everything said here stays in this room."

One voice at a time, no interruptions.
Talk about actions and impact, not motives.
Phones away; we finish with a written agreement.

Step 3 — Each Person's Uninterrupted Perspective

Person A — their view of what happened (5 min, uninterrupted): ____________________
Person B — their view of what happened (5 min, uninterrupted): ____________________
What each person heard — A restates B's view, then B restates A's: [Confirm understanding before moving on]

Step 4 — Identify Shared Goals

What do you both want for the team / project? [e.g., Ship the release on time without weekend work…]

Step 5 — Brainstorm Options Together

Option 1: [Idea, no judging yet]
Option 2: [Idea, no judging yet]
Option 3: [Idea, no judging yet]

Step 6 — Agreed Actions

Agreed action	Owner	Deadline
[Action 1]	[Name]	[Date]
[Action 2]	[Name]	[Date]
[Action 3]	[Name]	[Date]

Step 7 — Follow-up Check-in

Check-in date: [MM / DD / YYYY] · Check-in format: [e.g., 20-min huddle]

If voices rise, pause and restate the shared goal. End every mediation by reading the agreed actions aloud, ambiguity is where conflict returns.