You don’t want to be caught in the middle of a dispute when in the workplace. Whether it’s between workers, employees against the manager or even an issue existing between the senior level staff, conflict can be a sensitive issue. That’s why if you have conflict arising in the workplace, you need to carefully find a resolution so that it doesn’t escalate.
Workplace Conflict Resolution Strategies
The following are practical strategies to respond to conflict that may arise:
– Focus on the behaviour and events as opposed to personalities. Rather than generalising a behaviour as the problem, discuss what went wrong in the specific situation.
– Listen to what both parties are saying. Both people might have different perspectives on what went wrong, and there may be validity to both sides. Clarify the situation in detail with both parties separately before you discuss it with them together.
– Identify the points of agreement and disagreement. The points that individuals agree on will help establish some understanding, and disagreements could help create potential solutions.
– Prioritise which aspects of the argument need to be dealt with the most and address those first. You can settle minor disagreements over time. You should not set major ones aside.
– Develop a plan for each individual to work on to resolve that conflict. Putting a time frame and goal for what you expect to achieve from the plan for both parties will help follow-up assessments of the situation.
– Follow through with your plan by ensuring the resolution of the conflict. Addressing the source of the conflict could involve talking to both parties about their perspective on the matter.
You cannot approach every conflict in the same manner. While resolving the conflict, different circumstances, conditions, and more can impact how it occurs. Make sure you understand the situation and listen to the individuals involved carefully before deciding how to respond.
