Workplace conflict happens in many industries and settings, but timely management can prevent escalations and major issues from occurring. Here are some of the ways conflict can be managed to reduce the risk of low productivity, poor morale, absenteeism, decreased job satisfaction and workplace stress.
Acknowledge problems
Ignoring issues won’t make them go away. A better strategy is to acknowledge problems and try to find solutions.
Investigate the issues
Investigate issues thoroughly and without pre-judgement. Try to understand the events, the problems, and the individuals involved. Listen to all viewpoints with an open mind, whether there is talk about poor management or an individual’s mental health issues. These issues are important to consider when managing conflicts, both in terms of how these may contribute to situations arising and how problems can affect the mental health of those involved. Mental health training courses can be a useful tool in developing understanding of the issues that may be involved. For more information on these, you could visit Tidal Training.
Clarify conflicts
Speak to individuals and try to identify the root cause of an issue. Define what the problem is. This could include factors such as poor communication, lack of skills, inadequate information, or differing values and opinions.
Encourage honesty
Facilitate a meeting where all parties feel safe to be open and honest and able to take part in frank discussions. Choose a neutral location that everyone feels comfortable in, set ground rules if necessary, lead the meeting with positivity and assertiveness and ensure that all parties have the time and space to air their views. This is a great way to reach a consensus on what the issue is and is a good way to begin navigating conflict in the workplace.
Set goals and outline a plan
Set a common goal and invite collaboration to reach that goal. Invite compromise until strategies can be identified that all parties can agree to. The work towards these goals should be regularly evaluated and lessons learnt for the wider workplace.
