Kenneth Kaye, American psychologist and writer, once said, “Conflict is neither good nor bad. Properly managed, it is absolutely vital.”
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Highly effective leaders identify, understand and develop swift and savvy resolutions to workplace conflicts, most of which demand some level of confrontation. Now, Forbes has found many clients dread confrontation, and shift the focus toward off topics or simply turn a blind eye to avoid uncomfortable conversations. But running from conflict will help anyone in any situation. Ultimately, the elephant in the room only grows or becomes much more awkward.
The following tips can guide you to build a healthy workplace environment that faces confrontation at the right time with courage and confidence:
- Identify the opportunity. Change the way you view conflict. By adopting a positive outlook on confrontation, you’ll discover that every conflict is a new opportunity for both the other people involved and you to grow, develop and learn. After all, if you intended to avoid conflict, the underlying topics and details are likely things that you have probably barely discussed, representing growth opportunities and innovative approaches you have yet to discover for yourself.
- Build an environment that encourages giving and receiving feedback. Ask your coworkers for their frequent, healthy feedback, and you will begin to show confidence and encourage others through your example. Allowing unpleasant truths to come out gradually promotes a sense of trust and understanding within your work, therefore reducing the risk of future conflict. Also, having honest talks lets your employees know their opinions are valued, raising their level of engagement. Finally, when confrontations do arise, they will feel far more inclined to receive your concerns with an open mind and an appreciation of your opinion instead of becoming defensive towards the situation.
- Be proactive, but resist jumping to conclusions. Prevent problematic behavior from escalating by taking swift action, but do not jump to conclusions before reaching a full understanding of the situation. Assume positive intent to immediately create a calm feel to lighten the situation. Another way to be proactive is to clearly speak without making room for interpretation, which causes false judgement and for people to jump to conclusions, to avoid being the source of conflict in the first place. Saying, “I need to see you in my office at 3 p.m.” can cause people to misinterpret that and start more issues, instead try, “Can we talk about the outline of your project in my office at 3 p.m.?” Being clear can go a long way in the workplace, so there is no room for misinterpretations that can lead to conflict.
By being fully accountable to the demands of leadership, and committing yourself to the steps above, almost every confrontation you have can be redirected toward a productive outcome. Those former self-doubts and insecurities that hindered your ability to face conflict will be replaced with confidence, courage in resolving issues and an understanding of the healthy dynamics that can move your business forward faster than you think.
You can also check out our Conflict Management Program to ensure that you reach your fullest potential as a member of your leadership team.
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