What are the most effective conflict resolution strategies for leaders with strong interpersonal skills?

1 Identify the root cause

The first step in resolving any conflict is to understand the underlying issues and interests of the parties involved. Leaders with strong interpersonal skills can use active listening, open-ended questions, and empathetic responses to elicit the perspectives, feelings, and needs of the people in conflict. By identifying the root cause of the conflict, leaders can avoid jumping to conclusions, making assumptions, or blaming others, and instead focus on finding a mutually beneficial solution.

2 Choose an appropriate style

Depending on the nature and intensity of the conflict, leaders with strong interpersonal skills can adopt different styles of conflict resolution. These styles range from accommodating, where the leader gives in to the other party's demands, to competing, where the leader asserts their own position and goals. Other styles include avoiding, where the leader avoids or postpones the conflict, compromising, where the leader seeks a middle ground or trade-off, and collaborating, where the leader works with the other party to find a win-win outcome. Leaders with strong interpersonal skills can assess the situation and choose the style that best suits the goals, relationships, and resources involved.

3 Communicate effectively

Communication is key to resolving any conflict, and leaders with strong interpersonal skills can use various techniques to communicate effectively with the people in conflict. Some of these techniques include using positive and respectful language, expressing emotions without aggression or defensiveness, acknowledging and validating the other party's feelings and concerns, reframing the problem as a shared challenge, and proposing solutions that address the underlying needs and interests of both sides. Leaders with strong interpersonal skills can also use non-verbal communication, such as eye contact, body language, and tone of voice, to convey confidence, sincerity, and empathy.

5 Follow up and monitor

The final step in resolving a conflict is to follow up and monitor the progress and outcomes of the resolution. Leaders with strong interpersonal skills can use this step to ensure that the resolution is implemented effectively, that the parties are satisfied and committed to the agreement, and that the relationship is restored and strengthened. Some of the ways to do this include setting clear and realistic expectations, providing resources and guidance, checking in regularly and providing feedback, celebrating successes and learning from challenges, and resolving any emerging or recurring issues.

Conflict resolution is a vital skill for any leader, and leaders with strong interpersonal skills can use it to enhance their performance, influence, and reputation. By using these strategies, leaders with strong interpersonal skills can turn conflict into an opportunity for growth, innovation, and collaboration.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?