Conflict Analysis: Positions and Interests

Life is full of conflicts.  Whether it's a disagreement on where to eat lunch with friends or something more serious, improving your ability to navigate conflict can greatly improve your relationships and help you meet your goals.

With that in mind, I'd like to explore the difference between interests and positions.

Positions

A position is the side someone takes in a conflict that that party believes will satisfy their goals.

Interests

The interests are the needs and goals of a party that compel them to involve themselves in a conflict.  In short this term describes someone's motivations.

Conflict Resolution

To best resolve a conflict, it is important to acknowledge opposing positions, however it is vital to use your energy to address interests.  If you are creative, you may discover out-of-the-box solutions to various conflicts that seek to fulfill each parties interests.

Has there ever been a time you came up with a unique resolution to a conflict in your life?  What was the outcome?