For many people, conflicts are awkward and challenging to manage. Workplace conflicts often start with a small misunderstanding and before we know it it’s turned into a big issue for employees, business partners or in some cases even customers. Conflict management is essential for successful collaboration between employees and a good work environment.
Unfortunately, many employees and employers don’t feel that they have the right tools to effectively work through conflicts at work. Although conflict is almost unavoidable when working with a diverse group of people, it doesn’t have to be a negative thing.
Minetum is here to help you learn how to handle conflicts.
In conjunction with Harvard Business Review, Minetum gives you 6 indispensable ways to handle conflict in the workplace.
Respect is the first step. People that are prone to avoid conflict are often concerned about their likeability. Most people have a natural desire to be liked, and conflict can of course negatively impact our image. However, in this situation respect is far more important than likeability.
Enter the conversation with respect, curiosity and an open mind. This sends a positive signal to the other person involved and the conversation is off to a positive start. When the subject matter is difficult, respect the other person’s point of view, and expect them to respect yours.
Focus on listening and not speaking. Conversations rarely go as planned. Spending a huge amount of time preparing what you want to say ends up wasting most of the workday. Instead focus on listening, reflecting and observing and this will remove some of the pressure on you.
Gather as much information as possible and ask follow-up questions without blame. Your attention and genuineness are encouraging for the other person, so for every statement, they make you should repeat what they’ve said, to make sure that you understand them correctly.
Be Direct in your communication. Instead of avoiding the real issue, address the uncomfortable situation head-on. Have a frank, respectful discussion and avoid rambling about something else. This can solve the issue before it turns into something bigger and more difficult to handle.
If communicating clearly is difficult for you, Minetum offers a training day that teaches you how to improve your communication skills!
Don’t put it off. Sometimes people that conflict shy will try to tell themselves that ‘it’s not a big deal’ to put off the problem. Instead of putting off a conversation and saving it for the future, try to tackle it right away. This might seem risky, but sometimes it’s exactly what is needed.
Plan a general outline of what you want to convey and the outcome you would like to achieve. Engaging in this kind of conflict management right away can be productive and inspiring.
Expect a positive outcome. Telling yourself ‘this is going to be a disaster’ is the wrong mindset to enter a conflict with. Tell yourself instead ‘this will be an improved relationship”. When you focus on the gains for the long-term relationship, it shifts your thinking to a more constructive place.
Keep in mind that people are different. Minetum believes that it’s important to keep in mind the different personality types and cultures in the workplace when handling conflicts. If you are from a conflict-avoidant culture, you can still participate in challenging conversations.
If it appears that the person you are talking with is not picking up what you’re saying, ask them to repeat their understanding of your points. This way you can make sure that the conflict is moving towards the desired resolution.
If you need help understanding human behavior in the workplace, Minetum offers training days that create better relationships, fewer conflicts, increased productivity and better job satisfaction.
Minetum is confident that by using these methods you will eventually find yourself more comfortable addressing conflicts at your workplace.
Professional Coaching I Personal Development 