Conflicts at work can be an important source of stress for some of us and are almost unavoidable at workplace. Learning to deal with and resolve conflicts at work is thus of much importance to any working man. Successfully dealing with conflicts at work helps make workplace a less stressful place and achieve better harmony at workplace.
How do conflicts affect you?
Conflicts and friction in the workplace can be stressful for everyone involved, and affect relationships at work.
Poor relationships at work waste time and energy; reduce work efficiency and productivity and dampens morale.
Successfully resolving conflicts with your colleagues at workplace can improve understandings with them and lead to more cordial working relationships.
The importance of successful conflict resolution
Conflict resolution can be seen as the civil way in which mature people make compromises and trade things of value.
Conflict resolution
reduces stress
saves time
reduces unnecessary hassles
increases productivity at work
minimizes negative feelings
strengthens communication and improves relationships among colleagues
We can approach the question of conflicts at work in similar ways as we handle many health problems:
Prevention – minimize conflicts
Treatment – handle conflicts
Rehabilitation – recover from conflicts
Minimize conflicts
You can minimize conflicts by taking some preventive measures.
1.
Respect others
You are more likely to win respect from your colleagues when you give them due respect
You can never be too polite
2.
Be appreciative towards your colleagues
Don’t take anything for granted
3.
Don't make things personal
Focus on objective facts
Avoid gossips and personal attacks
4.
Stay cool and manage your anger
Speak calmly, politely and rationally
Avoid expressing hostility in your posture, facial expression or tone
Be assertive without being aggressive
5.
Communicate clearly
Express clearly what you want and offer constructive suggestions
Good communication minimizes misunderstandings
6.
Avoid taking sides unnecessarily
Your colleagues are more likely to listen to your ideas if you are seen to be fair
7.
Don’t let things build up
Make your feelings known. It is usually better to air grievances than to let them pile up
It helps clarify misunderstandings
8.
Learn to say "no"
Say "no" and point out your difficulties early if you have to
Failure to do so may mean you end up getting blamed for "not saying it earlier"
9.
Seek help
Speak to your supervisor if a problem with any colleague seriously threatens your work
10.
Deal with stress
Conflicts and stress are closely related
Stress at work can make us more irritable and lead to conflicts among colleagues
Successfully dealing with stress effectively can thus help prevent conflicts
Making appropriate compromises is the key. The main goal is to succeed at achieving your aims or objectives, but not to win at all cost.
Handle conflicts
When conflicts arise, handle them in a mature way.
1.
Don’t take things personal
Stay cool when being criticized
Remember that it is your work which is being criticized. Your critic may be trying to help you make improvements rather than trying to make you feel bad
2.
Listen actively
Listen carefully: What is your colleague trying to say? Be sure you understand his/her position
Express interest in what your colleague is saying. Reinforce that impression with body language, like leaning forward, nodding your head and summarizing or paraphrasing what you have heard, for example "As I see it, you are saying…"
3.
Show empathy
You can make others know that you understand his/her ideas or feelings without necessarily agreeing, for example, by saying, "I understand that you feel this way. Here's how I feel…….."
4.
Put yourself in other’s shoes
Try to look at things from your colleague’s perspectives. That may help you understand the difficulties your colleague faces
5.
Be flexible
Make allowances for other people’s opinions and be prepared to make necessary compromises
Recover from conflicts
Successfully recovering from conflicts can help minimize the negative impact of conflicts.
1.
Be positive and pragmatic
When there are people, there are conflicts
Accept and face the situation with a positive mind and attitude
2.
Always look at the bright side of life
Don’t just focus on the negative things at work
Don’t let negative happenings occupy all your thoughts or dictate your mood
Life is too short to spend most of your waking hours feeling miserable in a job
Think about other positive or happy aspects of work - for example, the pay day
3.
Adopt a healthy lifestyle
Healthy lifestyle helps keep us in good physical and mental health
A healthier body and mind can withstand better the negative impact of unpleasant life happenings
Tips in Dealing with those "Special Ones"
There are always some colleagues at workplace who will give you more headache and trouble than others. Dealing with them may mean a little bit more efforts. Here are a few small tips for your consideration:
1.
General approach towards those with problematic personalities
Try to understand what motivates their behaviour
You may be able to communicate and work with them more effectively once you grasp why people behave as they do
2.
Handling bullies at work
Be firm and forceful in expressing your opinions
Take a firm stand and don't allow them to pressure you into doing anything unwanted
Act with a bit of caution
3.
Around complainers
Avoid acting too sympathetic if you feel their complaints are ill-founded
Conflicts at work can be an important source of stress for some of us and are almost unavoidable at workplace. Learning to deal with and resolve conflicts at work is thus of much importance to any working man. Successfully dealing with conflicts at work helps make workplace a less stressful place and achieve better harmony at workplace.
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