There is no use hoping for conflict resolution to not be required in a workplace. In every place, including places of work, where strong, assertive minds and opinionated voices come together, there’s bound to be conflict. Disagreement between collaborating parties can be a good thing, as it vets the soundness of ideas and creates a platform for only well-debated, time-tested initiatives to meet the cut of seeing the light of day. But this happy outcome takes hard work. It calls for active participation, respectful conflict resolution, and meticulous planning followed by intentional execution.
Of these, conflict resolution calls for the dexterity of human sensibilities, adjusting of attitudes, and the ability to carve a win for the challenge at hand even when the participants are at loggerheads. This is easier said than done. People who have poor, negative attitudes complicate conflict resolution by being bad listeners and bad communicators. This is where the advantages of effective conflict resolution will prevent escalations and breakdowns. Conflict resolution is a valuable skill to possess, and all professionals should have some exposure to it.
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Here are some of the basic components:
Approach to conflict: A conflict-laden atmosphere is not pleasant for anyone. Especially when notoriously negative co-workers are present, participants tend to turn indifferent. They hope that by ignoring the conflict, it’ll pass without causing disarray. However, this only normalizes the behavior of the negative colleagues, as if it were perfectly acceptable. Good leadership gets more done by pointing out the troubling parts of a negative co-worker’s behavior to them in a direct but non-offensive manner. This can be done privately to give the negative person a chance to mend their actions.
Being professional to the core: Personal attacks can quickly spiral out of control. True professionals can redirect the heat of a head-to-head situation by refocusing their energies on the issue at hand and taking personal equations off the table. People who are adept at conflict resolution can help even negatively-oriented people remove their egos and discover resources that help them solve problems. This way, despite poor attitudes, participants can move forward to mutually acceptable conclusions.
Prioritizing communication: Escalating conflict often leads to people getting into deadlocks and refusing to communicate. When parties take confrontational turns or shut down entirely, rephrasing their standpoints in neutral language helps to bring the balance back. Next, skillful conflict resolution lies in finding something positive that both parties will acquiesce to so that the dialog can be started again on a more polite, positive, and helpful note.
Dispelling tension: No one likes to be told to compromise. Yet, compromising is one of the most effective ways to resolve conflict. An adept communicator and skillful negotiator can help warring parties compromise without either party losing face and feeling short-changed.
Defining and reiterating what’s acceptable: Encouraging a sunny demeanor among team members is an ongoing effort. Leaders who have dealt with conflict resolution successfully help everyone learn from the episode and emerge stronger from it. They model acceptable behavior and lay down the standards of deportment acceptable at the workplace.
In the end, a great leader turns even a negative-minded co-worker into an ally and elicits positive, workable behavior out of them. Conflict resolution skills are valuable and even teachable. Testing scenarios in project management are a good practice for leaders to hone these skills and approach dissonance head-on. From top management to leaders of small teams, everyone benefits from learning and practicing how to handle conflict so that team performance and workplace experience fly high.
References:
- 12 Tips to Help You Deal With Negative Coworkers|indeed.com|Indeed Editorial Team|February 23rd, 2021
- 5 Keys of Dealing with Workplace Conflict|Forbes|Mike Myatt| February 22nd, 2012
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