Employees disagree at work. People have different values, goals, desires, and interests that may conflict. Conflict management reduces and prevents these disputes. When managing a disagreement, you must identify the causes and choose a solution. Conflict is unavoidable, but you may mitigate its impact. Here are conflict management skills to develop:
Conflict Management Skills
1. Problem-solving
Different attitudes and temperaments of coworkers can produce simple to complex workplace problems. A team member may be struggling to conclude their assignment on time. Thus, the team is delayed. This can lead to conflict. The "why" is crucial. A severe life change or family illness may be causing the person to miss deadlines.
Listen to everyone to learn their perspectives. Team members may be annoyed by one person not contributing, but they don't know the complete picture. If they understood the person was having personal troubles, they would be more understanding and help when needed.
Setting up a constant feedback loop to share highlights and lowlights and suggest solutions can boost employee-manager collaboration and team performance. Workplace conflicts rarely have straightforward solutions. Use your problem-solving skills to find the best solution. Problem-solving must be objective, yet emotions must be considered. Psychology Today says ignoring feelings makes things worse. So think about people.
2. Communication skills
Everyone communicates. However, few can communicate well. If you can't communicate, you'll quickly clash with coworkers, even if you're the most knowledgeable, professional, or experienced.
Communication has three main categories:
Listening
Communication usually involves talking. However, effective communication begins with listening. Solving a problem requires understanding and listening more than you say to manage conflict well. Create a safe space for employees to speak up. Facilitate employee communication. Make sure staff know how to give feedback and that complaints will be kept anonymous. Create a safe area for employees to give feedback. Your staff will feel safe coming to you before problems escalate.
Body language
Communication includes body language. Be aware of your body language when employees approach you with concern. When explaining a situation, look open and responsive. Face the speaker, evaluate your posture, and regulate your facial emotions. During remote video conversations, turn on your camera and make eye contact!
Moderating
When addressing a multi-person conflict, try getting everyone together digitally or in person. Moderate by psychological safety norms. By setting guidelines, you show that your company is a place where everyone can voice their thoughts. Psychological safety includes letting everyone speak and admitting you may not be the best mediator. To avoid a conflict of interest, find a neutral mediator if you have a strained relationship with the parties. You can consider contacting the best personality grooming coach to improve your communication skills.
3. Teamwork
Teamwork is key! Each team member offers unique insight, expertise, perspective, and personality. As a manager, you must create an environment where everyone can succeed despite their differences.
Clarify each team member's goal: Setting personal goals can help team members understand their position and how to succeed.
Set team goals: Whether you're finishing a project, increasing sales, or decorating your office for Halloween, setting team goals will keep everyone on track. This boosts each team member.
Inspire teamwork: Meeting with your team members in groups and one-on-one can assist them in understanding why they need to attain their goals and how the team's success will benefit them. A firm mission statement can also unify employees.
Defining team roles will improve collaboration. Understanding your peers' expectations will reduce disagreements. Defined roles promote workplace accountability. Everyone performs better when they take responsibility for their work, regardless of seniority.
4. Manage stress
A recent study found that job stress costs the US $300 billion in productivity. It also causes workplace strife. Stressed workers are more irritable and tense. Stress can turn little disagreements into major conflicts. Is your workplace or team stressful? Reaching company and team goals is crucial with tight timelines, and pushing too hard can backfire. Managers must also spot staff exhaustion and intervene quickly.
Listen to your team's reactions. Work cooperatively to avert future disagreements after identifying the stressor. Whatever the stressor, it's crucial to communicate and act in a way that indicates you understand and are willing to help. Stress management in the team is one of the most important personality development skills that a manager must possess.
5. Emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence combines numerous skills, improving communication, empathy, and conflict resolution. Workplace disagreements can cause indifference, disgust, wrath, despair, and contempt, and conflicts can make workers feel devalued and endangered.
Emotional intelligence lets you think like each offended party and evaluate their arguments. It lets you counsel compassionately without being unpleasant, condescending, or aggressive. Emotional intelligence isn't only useful in conflict situations. Emotionally intelligent managers can prevent workplace conflicts by identifying possible emotional flashpoints and resolving them swiftly.
Summing Up
Modern labor is complicated. People have diverse temperaments, personalities, ideas, and approaches. Conflict is inevitable. With the correct technique, you can reduce conflict and its impact on team productivity and morale. Effective conflict management helps resolve conflicts by addressing their causes. Conflict management requires teamwork, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, communication, and stress management. These conflict management skills will improve your workplace dispute resolution. You can even notice early indicators and fix them before they get worse. You'll maintain harmony so your team can focus on goals!