For any manager, conflict management at the workplace is one of the toughest and challenging tasks. In the course of a conflict resolution discussion, the underlying problems at the workplace get revealed; realizing and sorting these out is the primary responsibility of a manager. How the manager manages the conflict can either boost the team morale or cause the team to lose confidence and respect in their manager. That is why; it is essential for all managers to learn conflict management skills.
We at The Collaboration Effect ®, in collaboration with Mike Gregory, an internationally acclaimed conflict resolution keynote speaker, can help managers some of the best conflict resolution skills to handle conflicts at their workplaces effectively. Have a look –
Spotting the signs of conflict
The first and foremost aspect of handling conflicts is knowing the signs of conflict as spotting the initial signs can help resolve it easier. Managers need to play a vital role in strengthening the personal relationships within their team. Hence, realizing the early signs of conflict becomes necessary. Some of the common signs of team conflict situations include inconsistency in work efficiency, drop in work quality, unexpected requests to change groups or projects, and assignments, waning of casual conversations between team members is noticed, longer breaks, tardiness, more frequent breaks and likewise. In short, if you find unexpected shifts in behavioral patterns of the employees, then it is a clear sign of the potential initiation of conflict situations at the workplace. You need to explore more and listen.
Differentiate between what’s and why’s
No doubt, understanding what has happened and what the team members have decided to is a necessary aspect, but understanding why these things happened is also crucial. Remember, “Why” is the root cause of the “what”! Differentiating “what” from the “why” helps to unearth the common grounds and hence forms a strong foundation for working towards the solution together.
Asking the Right Questions
As a manager, you need to be open to the conflicting parties’ views and ask smart questions to get to the core of the issue. For that, you will have to think carefully before phrasing your questions while talking about the conflict. Make sure you do not blame or place fault, especially when talking to a specific person regarding the group effort. Ask open ended questions with the intention of helping the situation in a positive way. Give emphasis on sharing the personal perspectives of the people concerned rather than speaking for others. Give your employees enough space to share their concerns and perspectives without trying to put words into their mouths or blaming them. This way, you can help your employees understand their conflicts better and work collectively to identify solutions together.
These are just a few tips on how to manage conflicts at workplace efficiently. To consult with our experienced conflict resolution keynote speaker at The Collaboration Effect ® you can get in touch with us today. You can also contact Mike directly at mike@collabeffect.com.
Categories: Collaboration | Conflict Resolution
