Everybody wants to work in a positive, friendly and harmonious workplace. But alas, no working environment satisfies these criteria 100% of the time. After all, with people working together in close proximity for hours at a time, day after day, some degree of workplace conflict is to be expected.
Unfortunately, though, this conflict also has extremely negative implications. Indeed, in purely financial terms, it leads to losses of a whopping $359 billion in paid hours each year. It goes without saying, then, that resolving workplace conflict is essential for minimizing the damage it can cause.
Thankfully, there are numerous ways to do exactly that. Are you wondering how to handle such conflicts that arise in the workplace? Let us help! Keep reading to learn 7 key ways to solve conflicts in the workplace.
1. Don’t Pretend It Isn’t Happening
First thing’s first:
The worst thing you could do is to ignore the conflict that’s happening.
It might be tempting to bury your head in the sand. After all, ignorance is bliss and pretending nothing’s wrong allows you to avoid confrontation.
Of course, it also does nothing to resolve the issue.
Treat conflict in the same way that you would a physical health concern. At the first sign of trouble, you go and get it checked out! Wait too long and the problem can grow into something far worse.
You need to face facts and tackle the conflict head-on. Nip it in the bud early and you’re guaranteed a smoother road to resolution.
2. Listen to Both Sides
There are always two sides to a story.
Piece together what the conflict is about by talking, individually, to the affected parties. Try to understand their grievances and help them feel heard.
This is particularly important if you’re in senior management. At the end of the day, conflict resolution may literally be in your job description.
The best way to succeed is to listen and empathize.
You might disagree entirely someone’s behavior and approach. However, chastising them without hearing them out is a recipe for exacerbating the issue.
3. Set a Peace Meeting
Any conflict needs a safe space to be worked out.
With both sides of the story understood, it’s time to organize a meeting. Invite the people on both sides of the dispute, and act as mediator.
Set some rules. Give the meeting enough time for everyone to talk and express themselves. Ensure that the meeting won’t be interrupted. Agree to show respect, and give each other the chance to voice their opinions without being interrupted.
This isn’t a meeting about taking sides, laying blame and pointing fingers. It’s a chance for adults to come together and discuss what’s happening.
As a mediator, direct the conversation to help it proceed smoothly. Interject when things get too heated, and change the topic/move onto something else (that’s related). Never take sides and apportion equal opportunities to speak.
4. Don’t Hold Grudges
You might be the person who feels aggrieved.
Heck, you might be the person who’s been wronged somehow.
Take the higher ground. Be the adult and make the first steps to resolve the problem. Nobody wants to spend time in a bitter conflict with a colleague. It makes the atmosphere heavy, awkward and tense- not just for you, but for everyone else as well.
Don’t make your boss call the TSE – Tri State Enforcement! Bite the bullet, swallow your pride, and apologize for any role you’ve played in proceedings, and move on.
In an ideal world, the other person will appreciate your apology and offer one of their own. Even if they’re less accommodating, at least you can say you’ve tried.
5. Don’t Be Led Astray By Emotions
Conflict is emotive by nature.
Everything from anger and hurt, to embarrassment and anxiety, can arise in the heat of the moment. Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to let emotions do the talking for you.
Try to reign in your emotions as early as possible. Keeping a clear head is essential to make fair and proportionate decisions. If anger and frustration are overwhelming you, then stop to take a breather to stop things from getting worse.
6. Prevention Is Better than Cure
The best way to deal with workplace conflict is to prevent it in the first place.
Like we said in the intro, though, that isn’t always possible. Sometimes, issues arise that need to be dealt with.
Even so, a lot can be done to minimize the likelihood of conflict arising. Let’s face it, conflict is far less likely when employees are happy, well-trained, and well-treated.
Again, if you’re in a management role, it’s your job to cultivate this kind of positive environment.
Make sure employees know they can come to you for assistance; offer regular praise for hard work, and provide rewards and opportunities for growth. Empower your staff in this way and they’ll start performing better too.
7. Make Sure People Know the Rules
This tip’s another preventative measure.
Essentially, make sure the staff team understands the values and principles the company operates by. In other words, they should know what’s expected of them, and the behavior that’s unacceptable.
Of course, this shouldn’t be delivered in a threatening way! This isn’t a warning that they must hold themselves in a certain manner or be held accountable. Instead, it’s a method of getting people on board with the cause.
When company values are well-communicated, it acts as a guiding hand for behavior. A business that lives and dies by positive values is likely to attract employees who are committed to a similar vision. The chance of conflict decreases as a result.
Time to Resolve Your Workplace Conflict
Sooner or later, workplace conflict is going to happen.
It’s a natural by-product of the working environment- especially when you’re in high-pressure, targets driven roles. Some people get on better than others, and disagreements arise.
The real question is how you handle the conflict when it happens. Hopefully, this post has highlighted a series of useful tips for contending with these challenging situations.
Looking for more articles like this one? Search ‘employees’ on our website now!
You must be logged in to post a comment.