What do you do if your emotions are running high during conflict resolution as a Servant Leader?

Your colleagues are passionate people, just like you. They care very deeply about the work, just like you. Sometimes those (strong) opinions are in opposition to your own. That's when emotions run high. It is natural to think that one's own ideas are correct. Due to this, it is important to employ & encourage Active Listening in team interactions. In a environment where constructive criticism is encouraged we expose our emotions to judgment. Reactions to those emotions can vary widely. Bad, or good. That is ok & expected. The elephant in the room stays that way only if it remains unacknowledged. So acknowledge it! Do not judge others for their emotions. Let the team know it is ok to have them. Then move on. #EmotionsAreOkay ??

Anchor in empathy. In the heat of conflict resolution, emotions can surge like a storm, threatening to derail even the most seasoned leaders. As a leader, I anchor myself in empathy, acknowledging my feelings while prioritising my team's needs. I pause, and breathe, centring my focus on understanding perspectives and fostering a safe space for dialogue. As we navigate stormy waters, we need transparency, and I demonstrate this by embracing vulnerability, which reveals that emotions are human and we can use them to our advantage. Through humility and compassion, I transform conflict into opportunity, nurturing trust and growth within the team.

In conflict resolution as a servant leader, it's important to acknowledge and address your own emotions before attempting to resolve the conflict. Emotions can run high in challenging situations, and ignoring or suppressing them can escalate tensions and hinder effective communication. Take a moment to recognize and accept your feelings without judgment, whether it's frustration, anger, or anxiety. By acknowledging your emotions, you can approach the conflict resolution process with clarity, empathy, and resilience.

leadership comes from within. If we don’t not understand our own emotions how do we understand others. Servant leadership title and other titles of leadership are somewhat limiting, being labelled and placed in a box isn’t the right environment for an holistic viewpoint. In any conflict, highly emotional or not, you will have two parties who think they are right, otherwise there is no conflict. Get both parties to see the right in which the others are doing rather than focusing on changing the so called wrong. We all do wrong, It’s makes us human, but let’s start to focus on all the right we do. This connects with others to dissolve most conflict. Subtle but a profound shift in resolution.

As a Servant Leader, my primary focus is on serving the needs of others and fostering a supportive environment for growth and development. I strive to demonstrate emotional intelligence and effective communication skills during conflict resolution, which can help build trust, strengthen relationships, and promote a positive organizational culture.

Empathy during conflict resolution is crucial for a Servant Leader. To stay calm and collected, take a deep breath, acknowledge your own emotions, actively listen, validate their feelings, focus on common ground, and focus on solutions rather than blame. This approach builds trust within your team and transforms conflict into a collaborative problem-solving session. A calm and collected leader fosters a safe space for open communication, fostering a thriving learning environment. By practicing empathy, you can transform conflict into a collaborative problem-solving session.

Empathy is a powerful tool for fostering understanding and connection in conflict resolution. Put yourself in the shoes of the other party, seeking to understand their perspectives, feelings, and needs. Consider the underlying motivations and concerns driving their behavior, and validate their experiences with empathy and compassion. By demonstrating genuine empathy, you can build trust, rapport, and goodwill, paving the way for productive dialogue and resolution.

Active listening is a crucial skill for Servant Leaders. It involves acknowledging one's internal fire, silence distractions, focus on understanding, paraphrase what you hear, and resist interrupting. This practice defuses tension, builds trust, and creates a safe space for open communication. It allows everyone to be heard and paves the way for a collaborative resolution. Active listening is like building a bridge, demonstrating the value of a team's voice and fostering a positive learning environment.

Active listening is essential for effective conflict resolution as a servant leader. Focus your attention fully on the speaker, avoiding distractions and interruptions. Listen attentively to their words, tone, and body language, and strive to understand the underlying message and emotions behind their communication. Practice reflective listening by paraphrasing and summarizing their points to ensure clarity and demonstrate understanding. By engaging in active listening, you show respect and empathy towards the other party, laying the groundwork for constructive dialogue and resolution.

Maintaining control of your emotions and reactions is crucial in conflict resolution as a servant leader. While it's natural to feel frustrated or defensive during challenging conversations, strive to remain calm, composed, and professional. Avoid reacting impulsively or defensively, and instead, respond thoughtfully and assertively. Set a positive tone for the interaction by modeling patience, respect, and emotional intelligence. By maintaining control of your emotions, you can create a safe and conducive environment for resolving conflicts collaboratively and constructively.

To effectively resolve conflicts, it's crucial to acknowledge your emotions, take a tactical pause, redirect focus towards solutions, use humor carefully, and maintain a calm demeanor. Servant leaders facilitate solutions by fostering a safe space for open communication and collaboration. By focusing on problem-solving and maintaining a calm demeanor, you can create a harmonious environment where everyone can contribute their best work. By maintaining control of your emotions, you can create a harmonious environment where everyone can contribute their best work.

Seeking feedback from others can provide valuable insights and perspectives that help inform your approach to conflict resolution. Reach out to trusted colleagues, mentors, or peers for their observations and advice on managing conflicts effectively. Be open to constructive criticism and willing to learn from others' experiences and perspectives. Incorporate feedback into your conflict resolution approach, adapting and refining your strategies as needed. By soliciting feedback, you demonstrate humility, openness, and a commitment to growth and improvement as a servant leader.

If you find your emotions rising and you are interested in the best possible outcome of the situation the first thing to do is to step outside of your state so that you can bring clarity and neutrality to whatever is occurring. One of the easiest ways to do this is to take a moment and take several deep breaths, fully pausing and then releasing. It’s amazing how fast that can settle any rising emotions. if your emotions are really running high, it’ll be best to pause the situation and go for a walk. Do this breathing and clear your mind as a servant leader, you can only be useful to the degree. You have mastery over your own mind that means not identifying with your own emotions and being able to be fully present in the situation.

After resolving a conflict, take time to reflect on the experience and extract valuable lessons and insights. Consider what went well and what could have been improved in your approach to conflict resolution. Reflect on your own behaviors, attitudes, and communication patterns during the conflict, and identify areas for growth and development. Use this reflection as an opportunity to learn and refine your conflict resolution skills, ensuring continuous improvement and effectiveness in your role as a servant leader.

As a Servant Leader, it's essential to maintain emotional intelligence during conflict resolution. By pausing to reflect, actively listening, staying calm and neutral, showing empathy and compassion, focusing on solutions, and seeking support if needed, you can effectively navigate conflicts while upholding the principles of servant leadership. This approach fosters understanding, collaboration, and positive outcomes for all parties involved.

You’re a servant leader, but you’re also human. Tensions and emotions run high. In a position like this, having enough aware to politely stop the conversation is a powerful tactic to help center yourself and the emotions in the room, knowing that you’ll regroup and realign later. Another North Star is to refocus on why the meeting was called in the first place. Why are we here? What’s the goal? Don’t focus on how things got off track, but reset everyone on the purpose of the meeting. The objectivity in doing so can preserve that meeting in the moment.