Resolving conflict in the workplace can be tough, but not impossible. Conflicts within the workplace are inherently unpleasant and stressful. After all, who wants to deal with bad attitudes and negative energy on top of all the other stress that work can bring? Fortunately, conflicts can be resolved and harmony can be restored to the workplace. Here are some examples of conflict in the workplace examples for you to learn from.
Project Delay Conflicts
When two members of a single team, or even two teams, are working on a project, a breakdown of communication or a delay in information delivery can easily cause conflict. For instance, if team A and team B are working on a project that relies on team A completing their work first, team B may feel slighted if team A doesn’t complete their portion on time or adds new details at the last minute. Not only does this increase the stress on team B to complete the project on the deadline, but it also makes team B look bad if they are not able to deliver on team A’s last-minute additions.
To avoid this type of conflict, make sure that all team parties are aware of milestones and their respective deadlines. If you are involved in a conflict that has already begun, consider organizing a meeting between all parties involved to troubleshoot and institute a better process for future projects.
Leadership-Style-Based Conflict
Some of the most common resolving conflicts in the workplace examples revolve around leadership style. While leaders are often trying to do their best to guide their team, leadership styles might clash with team members’ needs. For instance, an ambitious manager might set stringent deadlines and lofty goals which might stress out the team. Or, conversely, a manager who is more relaxed might leave the team wanting more direction.
If you are leading a team, you can avoid conflict by reviewing expectations with your team and ensuring that everyone is able to meet your milestones in the desired about of time. As a leader, you should also encourage open communication among your team; they should feel comfortable coming to you with issues to avoid conflict. To help keep track of milestones, you should also establish checkpoints and progress meetings to ensure that everyone is comfortable and so that you can answer questions.
If you are concerned about a conflict within your team, consider having a meeting as soon as possible to create expectations. Alternatively, if you are a team member, speak to your team lead about any goals that seem unrealistic or about questions that you might have.
Customer-Service-Based Conflict
Whether you work in a B2B or B2C environment, you will likely need to deal with customer service in some form. If a customer conflict arises, empathy is key. Make sure that you admit responsibility for any mistakes, acknowledge hurt feelings, and offer a resolution.
Whether you need help with a workplace conflict or want to improve your conflict resolution skills and get certified, WorkPeace can help. Get in touch with WorkPeace today to learn more about what we do.
