How to Handle Conflict in the Workplace

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Conflicts in the workplace happen even in the healthiest of organizational cultures. Sometimes personalities clash, stress causes some to speak or act out of frustration, or opinions and feelings dominate creating friction and conflict between individuals or even teams. When conflict happens, how we handle it as individuals and as leaders can determine if bridges will be burned or if working relationships can be preserved. Here are a few tips for handling conflicts in the workplace:

1. Treat others with respect. Always show respect to others as professionals and as human beings. Showing respect will guide how you speak and act toward those who you experience conflict with. It can be difficult to show respect to someone who has disrespected you, but you must be determined to be the bigger person, especially if you serve in a leadership role.
2. Guard your words. Once something is said, it cannot be taken back. Words that are spoken carelessly can lead to further argument, anger, and hurt. Be careful to speak about the conflict at hand and not turn to belittling others or making personal attacks. Also, you should avoid profanity or yelling. Often it is helpful to disengage from conflict to avoid saying things that are hurtful or that could jeopardize your employment and work relationships. Returning at a later time to address the conflict after you have had time to process emotions and develop a constructive solution to the conflict is recommended when possible.
3. Seek resolutions. The goal of resolving a conflict is to mend relationships and move forward, not to “win.”  If you have this goal in mind, your speech and actions will lead to peacemaking instead of further argument. On the other hand, if your only goal is to prove that you are right, the conflict will not likely be resolved. This can lead to tense working relationships, decreased productivity, and a higher possibility of future conflicts.
4. Be humble. Apologies go a long way. If you see that you are wrong or have made a mistake, offer a sincere apology. This can help to resolve the conflict more quickly and to prevent future conflicts. Employees who know that their coworkers hold themselves accountability and admit when they fall short will offer more grace in the future when mistakes are made or conflict arises.

As a leader, you may be directly involved in a conflict in the workplace, or you may be responsible for diffusing conflict among your team. In either of these cases, it is important to remember the unbalanced power dynamic that may exist when there is a conflict between a leader and a subordinate. Your role as a leader is to be fair, equitable, and professional, and to adhere to the guidelines and procedures of the organization for handling employee relations.

When you experience conflict in the workplace, understand that everything may not be resolved and restored right away. What is important is that you do your part in resolving conflict and handle yourself in a professional way so that relationships are preserved and team members can work productively together.

If you would like support in handling conflicts in your workplace or would like to facilitate conflict resolution training for your staff, please contact Reach Consulting today!