Which of the following is one of the four steps to resolve a conflict?

Study for the New York City DOC Conflict Resolution Test. Access flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Understanding how to resolve conflicts effectively starts with creating a shared destination both sides can work toward. Identifying a common goal acts as the compass that keeps the conversation focused on a mutual outcome rather than competing demands. When both parties agree on a shared objective, it reduces defensiveness, builds cooperation, and provides a clear benchmark for evaluating possible solutions. In many conflict-resolution models taught for DOC contexts, you first uncover unmet needs, then assess feasibility, then establish a common goal, and finally brainstorm options and solutions. The step of identifying a common goal is best because it aligns efforts and ensures that the options you generate are aimed at the same end, making resolution more attainable. The other steps are important parts of the process—understanding what is wanted, checking whether those needs can be met, and developing specific options—but they serve different purposes than the unifying step that centers the discussion on a shared objective.