Effective Communication: The Answer to Resolving Conflicts

Great communication is key to convincing others, having constructive debates, and resolving conflicts. Leaders understand that conflicts are bound to happen in workplaces. Managing conflicts is crucial in the smooth functioning of any organisation, whether big or small. Conflict resolution is an integral part of team management and leaders are expected to be great at it. Successful leaders have figured out that effective communication is pivotal in resolving conflict. Safe and open communication makes a workplace safer and more welcoming. Safety to openly discuss anything and creating an environment that is welcoming enough for all is one of the deciding factors that determine the success of an organisation.

How do conflicts originate

The more diverse a workplace, the more chances there are for conflicts. People come from different backgrounds, cultures and mindsets, and hence irrational reactions are bound to occur. Instead of assuming a reaction, it is always better to be transparent in your communication and leave no room for misunderstandings. Everybody carries their baggage and draws their own meaning based on their past life experiences. Managers need to be considerate enough to understand that reality is subjective and it is natural that the same experience will be interpreted differently based on each individual’s experience.

Many people come to the picture with a “blame game” mindset. If managers fail to notice this attitude in people, it becomes a “blind spot” for them. Although conflicts are natural, they originate when people are not solution-oriented. The person who can put the focus on the solutions within no time, rather than delving into the problem makes the conflict less taxing on the individuals involved.

Interpersonal conflict is something that every employee experiences at least once in their lifetime. The reasons could be anything from competition, disagreements, personal matters, or any bias. Strong and toxic personalities’ constant struggle for power also paves the way for unwanted disputes. Personality differences within a team and power imbalance among employees in similar positions are constant causes of conflicts.

Is communication really the key?

The reiteration of the importance of communication in making any situation better is slightly overused as the meaning of communication has not been understood well in general. Communication is not just openly talking about your issues and letting the listeners know. Although that is the first step, communication is a feedback system rather than a one-way street. Whether the communication is becoming effective is tested based on the outcome of the interaction. Communication becomes ineffective when the speaker and listener fail to fall on the same page, hence the tonality, body language and choice of words are of prime importance.

The role of communication and effective communication in resolving conflicts

As people from different backgrounds come together in a work environment, disagreements cannot be avoided but eventually, it is all about how well things are handled and resolved. Even though it is hard to plan ahead how a conversation will pan out, the need to be mindful of the choice of words should never be underestimated. Interpretation is equally important in a conversation. When a listener fails to understand in the same sense as it was told, the gap needs to be filled at the earliest with proper communication to avoid further misunderstandings. That emphasizes the true importance of effective communication.

How effective the communication has been in improving a situation is a vital factor. Any conversation that happened to ease the situation needs to contribute effectively to the betterment of that situation. Communication can make or break a given situation whereas effective communication of requirements brings the desired outcome. While solutions to problems are not always guaranteed, how disagreements and conflicts are managed as soon as they begin is the key here. If an individual who comes up with an issue does not feel heard, conflicts start there. If the listener or anyone else willingly steps in to support those involved, the speaker will not be in a position to escalate it and there are higher chances that things will get better.

Every individual yearns to be heard and if that does not happen for any reason, conflicts arise. Hearing what is being said and paying attention to what is being said is different. Active listening needs to be practised consciously in workplaces, which forms the foundation of good communication. If the speaker is communicating as clearly as possible but if the listener is not attentive, the conversation becomes futile. The underlying intention of promoting the importance of effective communication in a workplace is to create a safe and accepting environment for everyone to thrive.