What do you do if your boss and colleagues are constantly at odds?

Listen to both sides without picking sides, then talk to each person calmly. Encourage them to find common ground and solve the issue. If needed, offer to help mediate or seek help from HR. Keep things positive and professional with everyone involved.

Dealing with difficult boss and colleagues can be challenging, however there are strategies one can employ to navigate these situations: 1. Observe and understand: consider whether there are reasons for the conflict that you might not be aware of. Try to understand their motivations and patterns. 2. Stay professional: avoid letting their behavior affect your work performance. Do not retaliate by working slower or taking time off. 3. Choose your words carefully: when having a discussion with your boss be specific or colleagues about incidents that bother you. 4. Emphatise: Consider what might be causing their behavior. 6. Deploy strategic gratitude: when you sense that your boss is on the edge, send an email thanking them on specific issue.

If you are in a position to do so and have the required credibility and skills, then, encouraging dialogue is a good option. However, many times, the person is caught between colleagues and boss and is not perceived to be in the position to take actions. In this case, ask for the support of HR or just inform your boss that you feel uncomfortable in the situation and that clarifying the situation would be immensely useful and a real motivator for the team. This can be done by just saying that you think both sides are frustrated and having a meeting to refresh what are the priorities, clarifying mutual expectations would be beneficial to a renewed motivation. 90% of the time, the team dynamic is affected by tacit expectations.

Miscommunication and/or a lack of communication often leads to unnecessary conflict. By encouraging a dialogue between parties that may be at odds, you lay the groundwork for better overall communication and the clearing up of any existing miscommunication.

Well, I am the top boss in the company. Other bosses report to me and can thus be tagged as my colleagues. Being at odds with each other is a common situation. Not only this, but all relationship situations revolve around finding a solution. For me, the best solution has always been to pick up the phone or sit across the table and talk. Where the conflict is on account of other actors (external or internal) - read team members, I make everyone part of discussions - focus again on finding a solution. There will always be a debate on the mode of such communication—open or behind closed doors. I have always preferred the former, where multiple people are involved, to the latter, when there is a one-to-one situation.

In addition to facilitating a dialogue, another powerful way of helping your boss and colleague move past the conflict is by focusing on a solution. The energy spent in focusing on the problem is much better spent on focusing on the solution and will be beneficial to all involved - including you.

One of the things I have experienced when coaching teams is a lack of awareness of the uniqueness of each individual and how they communicate which can cause frustration within it's members. Each team member comes with a different experience that has formed the manner in which they give and receive communication so spending time to build our knowledge of the different personalities of the team can unlock added cohesion. Spend time learning about each others experience and utilize tools if needed such as a DISC assessment that can give you objective information about each ones style and manner in which they communicate best. Learn to pick up on what is important to them and "flex" your communication style to meet their emotional needs.

When your boss and colleagues are frequently at odds, consider facilitating open communication and conflict resolution sessions. Encourage empathy and active listening to understand underlying issues. Foster a culture of respect and collaboration. Clarify roles and expectations to minimize misunderstandings. Seek mediation or leadership coaching if needed. Promote teamwork and shared goals to bridge gaps and improve working relationships.

When dealing with constant conflicts between your boss and colleagues, consider critical factors such as improving communication channels, seeking mediation or conflict resolution training, understanding differing perspectives, focusing on common goals, promoting transparency and accountability, building mutual respect and trust, fostering a positive work environment, encouraging constructive feedback, and exploring ways to align interests and priorities for better collaboration.