Italian conflict resolution uses time as a deliberate tool. Rather than pressing for immediate resolution, Italian culture is comfortable allowing conflicts to develop at their own pace. Emotions are given time to cool. Perspectives are given time to shift.
Circumstances may change in ways that make resolution easier. The cultural assumption is that forcing a resolution before people are ready—before the emotional temperature has dropped, before the right moment has arrived—often makes things worse. This patience is strategic, not passive.
It involves reading the dynamics of the situation, waiting for favorable openings, and being prepared to act when conditions are right. In practice, this means that if you push for an immediate resolution and your Italian counterpart seems to be stalling, they may not be avoiding the issue. They may be managing the timeline deliberately, waiting for the right conditions to produce a resolution that will actually hold.
Comments