Conflicts in the workplace can occur for several reasons, but few of the top reasons for conflict are that individuals often have very different ideas and ways of approaching their job that everyone around them might not agree with. Each of us has learned very early on how to manage conflict. For few of us, that means knowing how to communicate our desires and our requirements in case to better understand the issue and how it relates to others; but for some of us, it might be that we learned to manage conflict by being aggressive and not be willing to compromise which makes it complicated to come to any kind of a solution.
When people feel threatened in any way, they might often resort to the flight or fight response to alleviate their stress. Regrettably, neither of these responses is a great way to manage conflict because the root of the issue still remains and neither party feels any resolution. Wherever there are people living or working together, there are bound to be issues. The key to managing any type of conflict is to learn strategies where both people can feel heard.
Develop Powerful Professional Relationships From the Beginning
One key way to ignore conflict in the workplace is to take some time to develop good working relationships with your supervisor and your colleagues. Developing strong relationships in the workplace can assist you to avoid much of the pettiness that can go on when people do not feel accepted as a significant part of the group. Staying out of the line of fire when it comes to office politics can put you in a position to stay out of few of the negativity that can invade the workplace.
Ignore office politics at all costs and make it a practice to stay away from office gossip as well. Participating in office gossip can put you in a bad light and cause your supervisor and coworkers to view you as someone who is unprofessional and perhaps a troublemaker to boot.
Conflict in the workplace can often be a good thing and something to accept.
Conflict can assist get issues on the table and force both parties to take a stand on their beliefs and hopefully find a way that they can interact on what they would both like to accomplish. Facing conflict early on also assists to prevent bad feelings to fester while also providing an opportunity to move closer to a deeper understanding.
Making Peace in the Workplace to Manage Conflict
Commonly, we make more out of conflict than we really require doing. It may be our personal pride that holds us back from being the first person to take the initiative to move closer to the other person but by merely being the first one to take action, shows your willingness to develop some good will.
Focus on the Facts
When attempting to resolve a conflict with another person it is significant that you stick just to the facts. It is quite possible that the two of you see things in an entirely different way, which is usually why conflict starts in the first place, but it’s very important for both parties to stay with what they see as the facts and not let emotions get in the way.
Inquire an Objective Third Party to Help
You might find that the issue has gone on too long or that one or both of you has some very strong feelings on a particular problem so it can often times be helpful for both parties to sit down both individually and together with an objective third party.
Another person might assist you to draw a different perspective on the issue, which could be all it takes to come to a solution that can be accepted by both parties.
Be a Good Listener
Oftentimes conflicts can be ignored or solved rather rapidly if each party would take the time to completely listen to what the other party has to say rather than having to express their opinion first and then occupy their mind by thinking of what else they want to say. It is also significant to go into any kind of negotiations with a clear mind and avoid any preconceived notions. The communication should always be respectful and both parties should work to make the other person feel heard to manage conflict.
Maintain a Win-Win Behavior
Even though two individuals may be in conflict, they may still be very much in sync on what they’d both like to see happen.
When something ends up being a win-win for both parties, the result is often a sense of good will and a strong feeling of accomplishment. Working through a problem and coming up with a win-win situation for everyone really can assist to make a working relationship stronger and benefits both parties.