How to deal with conflict in the workplace when your nature is kindness and compassion

Conflict in the workplace is often unavoidable, and hard when you are naturally kind and compassionate. It's important to be able to navigate through these situations without a negative impact on your well-being or the relationships of other teammates. Here are a few tips for managing conflict effectively in the workplace, even when your natural inclination is towards kindness and compassion:

Take Time To Identify Your Feelings

?When faced with conflict, take time to identify your feelings before responding or reacting. Pay attention to what feelings are coming up for you - is it anger or frustration? Is it tearfulness or anxiety?

?It can be helpful to reflect on past similar situations that made you feel strong emotions. Once you can identify what those emotions are, it will be easier for you to understand why you feel this way in the current situation and deal with them accordingly.

?Remain Calm & Objective

When conflict arises in any setting, your first reaction should always be to pause and examine the situation from an objective perspective; not just from your point of view.

Breathe deeply as needed, remove yourself from any emotions and anxiety you may have already attached to the conflict, assess who’s involved and remain calm while doing so.

Understand both perspectives

When facing conflict within the workplace, understanding both sides will provide valuable insight into what’s causing it – whether there’s some underlying root cause or misunderstanding – instead of assuming that either one party is ‘wrong’ or ‘right’.

It may feel difficult (and even uncomfortable) to show empathy towards someone who you feel negatively about.?Try visualising yourself open-mindedly listening to both perspectives before deciding upon actionable strategies or solutions.

Show Kindness

We often attach aggressive behaviour with confrontational tactics but displaying kindness shouldn't be underestimated as a first response tactic either.?Especially when coupled with communication techniques such as active listening (fully hearing/understanding another person’s feelings).

Even when disagreeing vehemently, emphasising respect can go far in maintaining civility between colleagues so remember keywords such as thank you, apologies, I understand etc because they are pertinent even when you are feeling frustrated.?

Understand That Conflict Is Unavoidable

?It is important not to take on too much blame or guilt when conflict arises. We need to learn to accept that no matter how hard one might try, conflict is inevitable even between people who get on well.??

It helps you bring compassion into play when you accept & understand this fact more deeply.?This stops you from carrying past hurtful experiences into future relationships in an unintended manner - making life rich & peaceful at the same time!??

Balance Emotional Awareness With Rational Thinking

?At times like these, it helps to exercise emotional awareness and use rational strategy measures together. It helps to stop your coping mechanisms from overshadowing your constructive problem-solving ideas!

An effective strategy would involve first being aware of your emotions & letting go of feeling overwhelmed before navigating through the logical solutions step by step instead.

Work to keep your inner peace in mind all through this process.?If further help seems needed during such times, don't hesitate to seek professional coaching or counselling support.?

Agree on a Solution Together

?Agreed solutions are better when they involve collaboration from both parties.?When people feel forced into complying against their judgement or values it means they don’t take responsibility to change the situation or behaviour.?

It will likely lead to further conflict as well. ?

The goal here is for all involved to walk away feeling content and satisfied yet also understanding what responsibility falls to each person. ?

Follow-up & Check-in

?Something essential in working towards healthy work relationships is understanding how important follow-ups are.??

Following any source of tension especially around performance tasks and roles, it is important to check that the situation has been resolved and that the right actions have taken place.

This helps to promote mutual trust among employees because they can see actions then happening and that people care.

Implement these tips, as they will support you in retaining your kindness and compassion without causing you a headache and feeling anxious when dealing with difficult situations.

Want to develop your handling of conflict and difficult conversations then book in for the difficult conversations mentoring sessions.

Imagine the relief if you added to your mental and emotional toolkit and gained confidence.

Find out more at "The People Mentor" website