Comments on: [CONFLICT] Crisis Averted! The Power of an Email https://youthministry.com/conflict-crisis-averted-the-power-of-an-email/ Daily Wisdom for Youth Workers. Thu, 28 Jun 2018 16:09:03 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 By: Justin Herman https://youthministry.com/conflict-crisis-averted-the-power-of-an-email/#comment-291517 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 01:16:57 +0000 http://www.morethandodgeball.com/?p=36660#comment-291517 Parent ministry and relationships with families, ESPECIALLY Jr. High families are so important.

Big Fan…

]]> By: Will Ray https://youthministry.com/conflict-crisis-averted-the-power-of-an-email/#comment-291516 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 16:11:16 +0000 http://www.morethandodgeball.com/?p=36660#comment-291516 Beautiful response! While phone or face-to-face is better, the theme of what you wrote – keeping the mission in front of the parent – is awesome. Thanks for sharing this!

]]> By: Erik w/a "k" https://youthministry.com/conflict-crisis-averted-the-power-of-an-email/#comment-291515 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:37:19 +0000 http://www.morethandodgeball.com/?p=36660#comment-291515 Kurt,

This is a great challenge for us all. My natural tendency is to avoid conflict like the plague. I know that’s not healthy, but it is my instinct. That being said, I still take that conflict head on. I believe you did the right thing by replying in the communication form that she took on. Yes, tone can not always be communicated via email, but at least it wasn’t a text reply to her email. Good stuff bro.

]]> By: Kurt Johnston https://youthministry.com/conflict-crisis-averted-the-power-of-an-email/#comment-291514 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:05:22 +0000 http://www.morethandodgeball.com/?p=36660#comment-291514 In reply to Doug Milne.

I hate the devil…but I LOVE people who play devil’s advocate!

]]> By: Kurt Johnston https://youthministry.com/conflict-crisis-averted-the-power-of-an-email/#comment-291513 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:03:52 +0000 http://www.morethandodgeball.com/?p=36660#comment-291513 Doug and Brent,
I agree…face to face or ‘voice to voice’ on the phone would be best, and I almost always use that approach. But I also follow the lead of the person who initiated the complaint: A phone call will get a phone call in return. A face to face complaint will get a face to face discussion. And an email will often get an email. I’ve learned that some folks pick a certain type of communication because it’s what they are comfortable with and what they respond best to…as her response seemed to indicate.
At the end of the email, I included an offer to talk face to face…as I ALWAYS do. I

Doug, in our setting explaining the “mission” or purpose behind an event is always something we do; not to blow off concerns but to help parents understand why we do the things we do in the way we do them. I’ve never had that backfire but I suppose it could.

]]> By: Brent https://youthministry.com/conflict-crisis-averted-the-power-of-an-email/#comment-291512 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 14:17:23 +0000 http://www.morethandodgeball.com/?p=36660#comment-291512 I agree with Doug Milne’s comment — with one exception. Instead of over the phone, go face-to-face. A good rule of thumb is that e-mail should *never* be used for conflict resolution. Anything that can be misread typically will be. Phone is better than e-mail, but not as good as in person.

That may be easier for me than for Kurt. I have 20ish teens, not 700.

]]> By: Doug Milne https://youthministry.com/conflict-crisis-averted-the-power-of-an-email/#comment-291511 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 13:55:26 +0000 http://www.morethandodgeball.com/?p=36660#comment-291511 Great suggestion here, but it is important to note that it doesn’t always turn out that pleasant…pardon me for being the devil’s advocate, but that email response to the parent had the potential to go south very quickly. First, a phone call would have been best. Emails have a tendency to take on a tone that the writer never intends. Second, although the response to the angry email was appropriate, some parents might view the “sharing of the mission” as blowing off their initial complaint. Finally, all youth workers need to realize that things just aren’t always that simple and we must be prepared for all scenarios.

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