Resolving role conflict

• Are you tempted to ask your boss to resolve it for you?
• But if you win, how will that affect your colleague?
• Is it worth making an enemy?
• Perhaps as a last resort, but is there a win-win option?
• When arguing with your colleague, do you focus on points of disagreement?
• Have you listed everything you can agree on?
• Are you both clear why this part of your role is important to you?
• Is it about power? Functional background? Profile? Status?
• Is there some other way of getting what you want?
• Could you share authority over the disputed domain?
• Could this be a reason to create an entirely new role for yourself?
• If so, how could you enlist your colleague's help to get your boss to re-organize?
• Could you swap aspects of your role with your colleague?
• Should you bring other colleagues into the exchange who might be willing to relinquish parts of their roles for other benefits?
• What else can you offer your colleague in exchange for the disputed parts of your role?
• Is there some other way you can support your colleague?
• Conversely, would you be prepared to give up this part of your role in exchange for your colleague's support on one of your projects?
• The key to resolving this conflict constructively is to find some basis for bartering that leads to a strengthened relationship with this colleague rather than creating an enemy.
• If you need to use pressure, use other colleagues before your boss.