Association of Social Work Boards Masters (ASWB MSW) Practice Exam

The first step in the management of conflict is to recognize that a conflict exists or has the potential to arise. Without this awareness, it is impossible to effectively manage and resolve the conflict. Options A and B are both steps that come after the recognition of the conflict. Option D may also seem like a logical first step, but without recognizing the conflict first, it is not possible to accurately assess the situation. Therefore, option C is the correct first step in conflict management.