When people are in conflict, they are typically on opposite sides of an issue. In order to bridge that gap, it’s important to understand the distinction between the parties’ positions and their interests.
Positions are typically how people describe what they want when first coming into a conflict because they mistakenly see these positions as the only way their interests will be met. If you’re on a particular side of a conflict, your position is a stance you've taken.
An interest, however, is really why you want what you do; it’s the reason why you are saying you want something in particular.
EXAMPLE
Ingrid is experiencing conflict with her son because he doesn't do the chores that she has asked him to do. She states that she wants her son to empty the dishwasher and take on the trash without being asked many times for each task. This is her position.In other words, an interest:
It’s very easy to confuse positions and interests, and this often happens when people come into conflict. They fight for a particular position because they think that’s the only way they’re going to get their interests met.
However, when you actually consider the interest, you will find that many times there is another way of meeting that interest, not just the one way in which you originally thought you needed to have it met.
EXAMPLE
While at work, your boss tells you that you have to work overtime this week. That's your boss's position. Your position is that you have to leave by 5:00. While these two opposing positions may seem impossible to bridge, it’s important to look at the interests underneath the positions.EXAMPLE
You live in a condominium, and there are two sides in conflict about pets. There are people who say there should be absolutely no pets in this condo, and there's a group that really wants to have pets. Two totally different positions.Source: Adapted from Sophia tutorial by Marlene Johnson.