Conflict Resolution In The Workplace

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Conflicts are a natural part of life - we deal with them with our parents, with our siblings, with our spouses, and even with our own children. But the most difficult conflicts to resolve are usually not those we have with the people close to us, but are the ones we have in the workplace. We are better equipped to handle familial conflicts because of the foundation of relationship that is already in place, both before and after the conflict. In the workplace, however, conflicts often deal with people we hardly know (or, at least, with people we wish we hardly knew!), and this can make them much more explosive. While there is certainly no cure-all that can solve and eradicate all workplace conflicts, there are a number of tips you can pick up that will help you to solve workplace problems, settling them in a calm and effective manner, before they blow up and injure all individuals involved.

There is one major mistake people make when trying to resolve conflicts, especially in the workplace, and this is the mistake of assigning blame. If you tell someone on your project team, "You don't do any work," they are far less likely to listen to you, and you are therefore far less likely to resolve the conflict, than if you express, "I feel like I am doing all the work."

The "us versus the problem" is an especially positive approach to take when dealing with conflicts. Instead of pitting two individuals against one another, the "us versus the problem" approach essentially says, "Yes, there is a problem, so let's identify it and work it out together. By working together against the problem, you can also easily avoid placing blame, as the problem has now become the issue in question, rather than it being one person or the other.

Finally, make sure you always think twice (maybe even three times) before involving your superiors in an argument. While this can settle an argument for good, it also can create bitterness between yourself and the coworker in question. Furthermore, no one looks good when a conflict is taken to a higher-up, no matter who is proven to be "right" or "wrong."

Conflict resolution is not always easy, but it is often necessary. Instead of fighting and making your conflicts worse, learn how to solve them.