Poetry and Conflict Management!

Last Friday, on May 24th, I participated in the Swiss Tropical Health Institute networking event focused on conflict management. Conflict is an inevitable part of human interaction, whether it occurs in personal relationships, professional settings, or societal dynamics. How we navigate and resolve conflicts speaks volumes about our emotional intelligence and communication skills.

Marie Marchand, mediator and Director of A-Zimut Consulting delivered an insightful presentation on managing conflict through dialogue. She emphasized that conflicts can be positive, advocating for embracing rather than avoiding them, and using this energy to build trust, adapt, and cope.

This topic resonated with me deeply, as I believe in maintaining respectful relationships at work. While we all have boundaries and values, our common goal is to treat each other with respect. Thus, I find myself wondering: how can we respectfully and progressively move forward in a conflict situation?

Marie suggested utilizing Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and active listening to navigate conflicts. NVC, developed by clinical psychologist Marshall Rosenberg in the 1960s and 1970s, has its roots in person-centered therapy.

While expressing oneself is important, there's also great value in listening. Marie also discussed Otto Scharmer's four levels of listening: Downloading - listening by reconfirming habitual judgments. Factual - listening to facts without bias. Empathic - understanding the speaker's emotions and perspectives. Generative - listening to create new possibilities.

Therefore, by employing active listening and nonviolent communication, we can navigate conflicts and potentially turn challenging situations into positive outcomes.

During her talk, she beautifully shared the importance of active listening and effective communication through Ruth Bebermeyer's poem "Words are Windows or They’re Walls." This poem powerfully showed how words can either divide us or bring us closer, reminding us of the impact of our communication.

Words are Windows or They’re Walls

I felt so sentenced by your words,

I felt so judged and sent away,

Before I go I’ve got to know

Was that what you mean to say?

Before I rise to my defense,

Before I speak in hurt or fear,

Before I build that wall of words,

Tell me, did I really hear?

Words are windows, or they’re walls.

They sentence us, or set us free.

When I speak and when I hear,

Let the love light shine through me.

There are things I needed to say,

Things that meant so much to me,

If my words don’t made me clear,

Would you have help me to be free?

If I seemed to put you down,

If you felt I didn’t care,

Try to listen through my words

To the feelings that we shared.

I deeply enjoyed the use of poetry as an educational tool in the conflict management talk. My reflection is that while conflict management is complex, it can generate creative energy and forward movement similar to how art can serve as a transformative tool, enhancing understanding and facilitating progressive advancement.

To me Art's role in health is not just supplementary; it is essential. It provides a medium for expression, reflection, and connection, which are crucial in managing conflicts and building a supportive community. Acknowledging and embracing the power of art can transform our approach to health and wellbeing, making it imperative to consider its integration in our daily practices.

Overall, I'm grateful to the Swiss Tropical Health Institute for hosting such an insightful event. It really underscored how crucial dialogue and empathy are in resolving conflicts, offering a valuable learning experience. Through methods like Nonviolent Communication and active listening, we can turn conflicts into chances for personal and communal growth. And by incorporating art into our approach, we can deepen our understanding and strengthen our sense of community support.