Conflict occurs when two people disagree about something. It can be anything from a disagreement in opinions to a difference in values.
The workplace is a battlefield and as a leader, it is your job to make sure that you are always on top of things. This means that you have to be able to handle conflict effectively and know how to diffuse it before it worsens.
Here are some ways in which you can do this:
Get your facts straight
The first step in managing conflict is to make sure that you have all the information you need before taking any action. This means that you should try and understand where both parties are coming from and what their perspective on the situation is.
You should also ask yourself if there were any contributing factors that led up to this point or if there are any other factors that could have contributed to this point of disagreement. Once you have gathered all of this information, it will be easier for you to come up with a solution for resolving the conflict and moving forward.
Stay calm
It’s important for leaders not to lose their cool in the face of conflict.
It may be tempting to shout or lash out at others during a heated argument. But this is not going to solve anything, and it could make the situation worse.
Avoid blaming or accusing
Leaders should not blame or accuse others for causing conflicts in the work environment. Instead, they should look inward and reflect on their own role in creating an environment where disagreements can happen and seek ways to create a better environment for everyone involved.
Be empathetic
Empathy is defined as “the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.” It is a skill that requires one to be able to see things from the other person’s point of view and understand what they are feeling and why they feel that way. This skill can help leaders deal with conflicts in a more constructive manner because it allows them to understand what the other person needs and wants.
Stay neutral
It is important that both parties feel heard and understood.
If one party feels like they are being talked down to or if they feel like they can’t express themselves freely, this will lead to resentment towards their boss or coworker which could result in them becoming less productive at work or even quitting their job altogether.
Listen carefully and take time to process what they are saying
Listening is not just about hearing the words that someone says. It is about understanding the meaning behind those words. Listening to nonverbal communication will give a better understanding of what someone is trying to say.
Listening requires patience and it requires you to stop thinking about your response and start thinking about what the other person is saying. When you are listening, you will ask questions, clarify points and summarize statements.
Gaining a better understanding of how employees perceive conflict situations will help leaders not only manage the situation in a better way but also improve company morale in general. With improved listening skills, leaders can identify when they need to step back or when they need to intervene more directly in order to resolve or prevent issues that arise as a result of conflict.
Address the underlying issues instead of focusing on symptoms of problems
Many leaders believe that the best way to handle conflict is to focus on the symptoms of the problem. They believe that by solving the problems, they will be able to reduce the conflict.
However, this is not always true. The underlying issues are often what causes conflict and by focusing on them, you can fix a lot of other problems as well. Addressing these issues will help you create a more cohesive team and will lead to better results in your organization.
Be open-minded and flexible with your solutions to conflicts at work
Leaders should try to find a solution that makes both parties happy, even if it means compromising on a few points. In general, people are more likely to accept compromises when they feel like the issue at hand is low-priority for them.
Final words
Conflict is inevitable. It can happen at any point in time and in any environment. Conflict can be a result of misunderstandings, differences in opinions, competing interests or even a clash of personalities.
Leaders are expected to act maturely and responsibly when it comes to handling conflicts at work. They have to have the ability to stay calm and composed while dealing with the conflict situation. Leaders should not be afraid of confronting the person who is causing the problem and should make sure that they are not being too aggressive or passive-aggressive about it.
Leaders should also be willing to listen carefully before jumping into a conversation or argument with the other party involved in the conflict.
