Tip #36: 3 Tips for Conflict Resolution

April 15, 2009 2720 Comments2009-04-15+11%3A08%3A43Ben+Nash

Conflict in the workplace is inevitable. Organizations are made up of so many unique individuals, each with their own opinions, perspectives, and approaches to accomplishing tasks and meeting goals that there are bound to be times when “toes are stepped on”. Some organizational conflict can be a good thing; a little healthy competition between salesmen to see who can break the monthly sales record will obviously help the company. It’s when conflict begins to affect the morale and/or the safety of the office, that conflict resolution needs to be implemented. Here are three tips for helping to resolve conflicts in the workplace:

Communicate – In any conflict situation, positive and meaningful communication is necessary to resolve the issue at hand, particularly if one or all of the parties involved in the conflict feel as if they are not being heard. Ignoring a conflict will usually not help the situation – the conflict must be tackled straight on with both (or all) sides participating to come to some form of resolution.

Compromise, collaborate, avoid, or stick to your position! – When it comes to resolving conflicts, the people involved have choices. They can agree to compromise with the opposing party by accepting some of their views in return for having their own views accepted – or not! Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Kilmann_Conflict_Mode_Instrument to get information on the Thomas Kilmann approach to conflict resolution which is a great tool for helping to identify the options you might have when trying to resolve conflict.

Try to see the benefits of “creative conflict”. Conflict can produce creative solutions – sometimes getting opposing views out on the table can help to bring out all sides of an argument and produce a creative solution!