How can you address conflicts caused by differences in work hours with feedback?

1 Align on goals and expectations

The first step to prevent and resolve conflicts is to establish clear and shared goals and expectations for your partnership. What are the outcomes you want to achieve together? How will you measure your progress and success? What are the roles and responsibilities of each partner? How often and how will you communicate and coordinate? How will you handle changes, delays, or issues? Having these questions answered and documented can help you align your work hours with your partner's and avoid misunderstandings or frustrations.

2 Give feedback regularly and timely

The second step is to provide feedback to your partner regularly and in a timely manner. Feedback is essential to improve performance, address problems, and celebrate achievements. However, it can also cause conflict if not delivered or received well. To give effective feedback, be specific and objective, using examples and data to support your feedback. Additionally, be positive and constructive, starting with what is working well and then suggesting areas for improvement. Speak in a supportive and respectful tone, avoiding blame or criticism. Additionally, be timely and consistent in your feedback, giving it as soon as possible after the event or behavior, and not just when there is a problem. Finally, be open and receptive by asking for your partner's perspective and listening actively. Acknowledge their feelings and concerns, and invite them to share their feedback with you as well.

3 Use the right tools and methods

The third step is to use the right tools and methods to communicate and give feedback with your partner. Depending on your work hours, you may need to utilize different channels and formats to exchange information and feedback. For instance, email can be used for formal and detailed feedback that requires a written record, while phone or video call is more suitable for informal and immediate feedback that requires a verbal conversation. Instant messaging or chat is ideal for quick and casual feedback that requires a short response, while collaboration software or platforms are perfect for shared feedback that necessitates a visual presentation. No matter what tools and methods you choose, make sure they are accessible, reliable, and secure for both you and your partner. Additionally, agree on the best times and frequencies to use them.