Americans expect conflicts to reach conclusions. Open-ended disputes that drag on indefinitely are frustrating and problematic. The goal of engaging with conflict is resolution—reaching a decision, settling the matter, achieving closure so everyone can move on.
This orientation drives conflict processes toward outcomes: procedures have timelines, hearings produce decisions, systems are designed to conclude. Resolution can take various forms—one party prevailing, compromise, agreeing to disagree, parting ways—but some form of conclusion is expected. Don’t let conflicts remain indefinitely unresolved. Push toward closure, even if the resolution isn’t perfect. Americans value being able to move forward.
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