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Your Team Deserves Peace
Conflicts at work are normal and can often inspire growth and innovation. But ongoing, stressful conflicts should not be normal. That’s where we come in!
Our team of expert workplace peacebuilders are used to the tough cases. Through various approaches traditionally used in international conflict settings, WorkPeace has translated such methods to be used successfully in the workplace. Restorative processes such as transformative mediation, problem-solving workshops, conflict coaching, and conflict resolution training for teams are among the various methods we use to create more peace in organizations.
Five Tips For Conflict Resolution In The Workplace
Workplace conflict can be draining and stressful, which is why a rapid and successful resolution can benefit all parties involved. Here are five tips for conflict resolution in the workplace.
1) Be Proactive
Whether you are directly or indirectly involved, be proactive by looking for a solution. This might mean mediating the conflict if you are not directly involved or proposing a conversation to achieve a resolution if you are directly involved in the conflict.
2) Listen to All Parties Involved
Conflicts are seldom one-sided. To fully understand the conflict, it is important to listen to all sides of the story and understand everyone’s conflict management style. Create a safe space for everyone to speak and ensure there is plenty of time for all concerns to be voiced so that no nuanced grievances are left to fester unresolved.
3) Establish Common Ground
Trying to find common ground is an important first step towards getting people to work together toward conflict resolution in the workplace. As you listen to the parties involved in the conflict, areas of common ground will become more apparent. Establishing common ground will also help refine the areas of conflict. Remember, you cannot tackle a conflict in the workplace without identifying the reasons that the conflict arose in the first place.
Note, however, that this strategy is only effective if all parties involved in the conflict can agree on the points of conflict and what is common ground; this is not something that you can simply decide on your own.
4) Create a Resolution Strategy
Once everyone has agreed on where and how the conflict or conflicts are arising, it is time to create a resolution strategy together. Work as a team to help ensure that you have a solid strategy. Again, for it to be effective, all parties involved in the conflict must agree to the resolution strategy; it cannot simply be mandated by one side.
5) Follow Up to Ensure Continued Success
Following up is key to ensuring that your conflict resolution strategy succeeds. The goal of the follow-up is to ensure that the resolution strategy is working for all parties. If part or all of the strategy is not yielding the desired results, work together to come up with a new strategy.
To ensure agreement between all parties, consider adding follow-ups into your initial conflict resolution strategy. However, even if you have failed to do this, you can reach out to the party or parties involved and come up with a mutually agreed upon follow-up plan.
Know When to Ask for Help
Sometimes having an effective conflict mediator is key to successful conflict resolution. If you are not able to resolve the conflict on your own, asking coworkers, managers, or even a conflict resolution expert to get involved can be very helpful and effective.
Whether you are looking to learn more about how to become more effective at conflict resolution in the workplace or you have an active conflict at work that needs professional help, get in touch to learn how WorkPeace can help.
