Top Tips on How to Resolve Workplace Conflict
Workplace conflicts are a common occurrence in many organisations. When handled improperly, conflict can affect the performance of employees and the functionality of an organisation. In the excerpt below, you will learn how to handle workplace conflicts.
Conflict prevention measures.
Clear policies can help prevent workplace conflict. For example, to avoid conflict among the various departments, each department should have specific roles and objectives. Further, the workplace must have laws regarding employee behaviour. For example, how should employees dress? How should employees relate with clients? You must also address issues regarding remuneration and promotions to prevent labour disputes. Employees can immensely benefit from conflict resolution training and seminars. The knowledge garnered from such training can help create a friendly working environment.
Facilitate communication.
To prevent the escalation of the conflict, you must facilitate communication among the conflicting parties. At first, the parties may not want to meet eye to eye since emotions are high. Therefore, ask each party to give you their side of the story in the absence of the other party. Evaluate the similarities and differences between the arguments of all parties. This will help you determine the needs of each party.
Focus on issues, not individuals.
More often than not, people fail to resolve conflicts because they are more concerned about their personalities than the issues at hand. From the onset, ask the parties to refrain from making statements about each other's characters. Instead, they should focus on the causes and solutions to the conflict.
Avoid taking sides.
It is usual for mediators to feel the urge to favour one of the parties. Such feelings may arise when you have a personal or strained relationship with one of the parties. The best way to avoid bias is by ensuring you put the organisation's needs before your own. If you feel that your decision will be biased, ask someone else to resolve the matter.
Compromise.
Successful conflict resolution involves some compromise. Although win-win situations are possible, it is vital to let the parties know that they may have to compromise on some of their needs.
Focus on the future.
As you resolve the conflict, ensure that you focus on future relationships. Think about how you can help the parties build their relationship and get past the dispute. For example, you can suggest a lunch party or a team building exercise. Such activities will help the parties see their similarities and focus on building a long-term relationship.
When resolving workplace conflict, facilitate communication among conflicting parties, focus on the issues, avoid bias, encourage the parties to compromise and focus on future relationships.
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