Conflict Resolution in the Workplace
As much as we try to avoid it, conflicts at work and in our personal lives are always going to occur – whether they be big blow outs or minor disagreements, being able to resolve conflicts is integral to healthy relationships. Conflict resolution can be difficult, as people are different and will approach conflict in different ways. You get those who avoid conflict at all costs, and so allow for things to escalate simply due to the stress of addressing it. You also have those that find a bit of conflict exciting, and so may not approach a resolution in the most effective way.
In your career, you will likely have to deal with conflicts - addressing an issue with your manager, dealing with a disgruntled employee, traversing a difficult discussion with a supplier or third party – so good conflict resolution skills are key for your career to thrive. Luckily, we are here to help with that with these tips!
· Before approaching any conflict resolution, make sure that you focus on the issue itself, and not the person the issue is with. You won’t get very far in resolving any problems by making those involved feel like this is a personal problem, and will only cause further tension.
· In order to resolve a conflict you need to acknowledge the conflict. Pretending there is no issue will not make it go away.
· Address the issue with the involved parties, they may feel the same and want to resolve the problem. If you have a solution in mind, bring this into the discussion so you can talk about it further.
· Resolutions often mean compromises on both ends, so you may have to meet in the middle. You may not get everything out of the solution that you want, but recognise that the other party is also making a compromise. A gain is still a gain so don’t potentially damage a relationship further by pushing to get absolutely everything you want.
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· Listen! When having these discussions, it’s very easy to only think of what you want to say next. This will only lead to a breakdown in communication. Be sure to listen to the points that are being made to you and respond based on them. If you are both open and listening to each other, you are far more likely to find common ground and form a solution that works for everyone.
· It can be hard, but keep calm and don’t allow your emotions to run the conversation. This can be difficult, but just because you are outwardly showing them doesn’t mean you can’t communicate them. Express how you are feeling clearly so others can understand where you are coming from. It may be that they aren’t intending to make you feel a certain way, they are simply struggling with managing their own emotions as well, and having you communicate yours clearly and calmly will help them to do the same.
· Once a solution or compromise has been met, that isn’t the end of the resolution. To avoid future conflicts, it is important to monitor the situation going forwards. Check in with the other person or party to ensure the solution continues to work for both of you, or if it needs to be improved upon.
No two conflicts are going to be the same, so each time make sure you are addressing the conflict before you, addressing the unique circumstances. With any luck, these tips will help you navigate your way through most workplace conflicts. Remember though, in cases where you are working at a company with an HR department, they will always be on hand to assist in mediating any conversations and help in finding a compromise. Always reach out to the help and resources available to you!
Listen to our podcast on ‘Difficult Conversations’ for even more helpful advice and tips.