Managing conflicts in your organization

How do you manage conflicts in your organization??

Keep in mind: It's happening in every company, so be prepared to deal with it.

Due to today’s complexity, fast speed changes and more frequent interactions, conflicts seem to increase on all kinds of levels in your organization and to all different extente. Therefore, all of us will find ourselves in situations where we need to learn to cope and find out how to best manage conflict at work. Conflicts arise due to the above-mentioned in addition to working with people whom we might share few common interests with.

How can we calm tempers, restore peace, and meet the interests of all parties involved so we can continue to work constructively together??

Focus on the problem and not the person?

You will not get anywhere if you focus on the person and make it a personal issue. Rather, focus on the potential benefits to the organization if you are able to resolve the workplace conflict rather than on the potential negatives if you have a difficulty doing so.?

When dealing with conflict at work, remember that people tend to view conflicts quite differently, we have different paradigms that are based on our individual perspective. Usually both parties believe that they are “right” and the other person is “wrong,” and that’s why conflicts start and escalate in organizations.?

Management Tip: Try to find out what the underlying reason is. Is there a specific need or motivation of the other party? Listen, ask questions and stay constructive/open. Make sure you identify the root of the problem, that’s the only way to solve it.?

Promote constructive feedback

Feedback in stressful and conflict situations tends to get short, harsh, and unconstructive. We are pressured and emotional and want to get our point of view enforced. Our feedback gets negative, personal and vague. Even if you think you are being clear, let megive you one piece of advice from personal experience: you're the only one that thinkgs so.The tone of voice during conflict might get out of hand and unprofessional. This situation makes it even harder for the other side to listen and understand the real problem, and communication escalates or even stops completely.?

The only way to get back on track is: stop and rewind!?

Management Tip: Listen to each other, use decent and constructive language and try to understand the other persons point of view. Try to stay positive, give details, and describe how the situation makes you feel, and offer suggestions on what would help you to resolve the conflict or alleviate the situation. Find common ground and a common solution. Work on a way forward towards a common goal ??

Create channels of communication and be honest?

Sincerity and honesty are the best ways forward for any situation and especially when we encounter situations where there is pressure, stress or tension.?

Be clear on who is the right person to talk to and how to be interact. Also, create channels and processes where feedback can be tracked and where the solution or answer can be received and shared. Create and stick to ground rules, especially on how and where to communicate, but also to stick to professionalism and decency.?

Remember, at the end of the day all our work is about relations and people, and once they are hurt or damaged, we all suffer from the consequences on the long term. Systems can be repaired; relations might take a lot longer time to be reestablished (they might even be broken forever).?

People are the most important asset we have, so let’s make sure we take care of each other.?

“I have now worked for more than 20 years with science based personality, communication and cognitive ability assessments, and I can see how different facets of behaviours contribute to different styles of how to manage conflicts. People are surprised when they become aware of their own strengths but also their development areas. Its about creating awareness and motivation to change, to develop and learn new approaches on how to behave and how to communicate more constructively. Feel free to contact me for more info how these solutions can help in organizational and personal development and to create company culture!”?

Keep in mind: Hearts and minds are like parachutes, they only work when they are open!?