Four Ways to Resolve Conflict in the Workplace

Posted on Tuesday, May 30th, 2017

If there’s one thing most people can agree on, it’s that conflict sucks. No one likes getting in fights, and no one likes having to deal with unpleasant situations. It’s especially brutal in the workplace, where you might be in a position of needing to work with people who you just don’t get along with.

Conflict in the workplace has the potential to build and build until it feels like there’s no way to manage it. It’s unpleasant and makes going to work far more stressful than it need be.

Lucky for you, there are some ways of dealing with conflict in its early development so it doesn’t become overwhelming. Below, we look at some ways of managing conflict in the workplace.

Understand why conflict happens.

It can feel like there are a million causes to any given conflict. As conflicts build, they collect aggravations until it feels impossible to identify just one inciting incident.

In reality, and especially in the workplace, conflicts tend to have one of two triggers: poor communication, or emotional responses.

Often, poor communication means that one person hasn’t understood or wasn’t told about procedures or issues, causing friction with another employee. Add in some human emotion, and you’ve got a recipe for conflict.

This information is important to know. By understanding the underlying causes of conflict, you’re better equipped to deal with it responsibly and professionally.

Deal with it sooner rather than later.

It is so tempting to pretend that conflict isn’t happening, and to avoid dealing with it. Not many people enjoy facing antagonism head-on. But avoiding conflict only gives it room to grow, and so the most responsible way of dealing with it is to deal with it quickly.

By dealing with conflict quickly, you demonstrate your maturity and interpersonal skills. By focusing on resolving the conflict, instead of indulging in it, you will find that your work situation becomes much more positive and productive.

Ask the tough questions.

When you sense that you might be entering a conflict situation, remember what the major causes of conflict are: poor communication and high emotion. Keep this in mind so that your conversation stays on track.

First, know that most people have good intentions. It’s not likely that any set out purposely to frustrate or aggravate you. By separating yourself from that emotional first reaction, you stand to be a much better position to resolve the issue.

This conversation isn’t meant to be a time to point fingers, complain about each others’ behaviour, or rant. Instead, you want to come to a mutual agreement.

Next, remember that poor communication often leads to feelings of frustration. So ask what’s up. Questions like, “I’ve noticed you do ‘x’, why is that?” and “When I do ‘x’, you seem frustrated, why?” can get the conversation started and focus it on communication. It gives the other person an opportunity to communicate why they behave in a certain way, and help you find a way to prevent future conflicts.

Avoid conflict—the right way.

Pretending that conflict isn’t happening around you when it is isn’t a healthy way of dealing with the situation. But there is a good way of preventing conflict before it happens.

Conflict gets so much worse with gossip. Gossip can turn a healthy work environment toxic and make it miserable to go to work every day. As much as you possibly can, stay far away from office gossip. Don’t create a reputation for yourself of being a gossipy person, and stay clear of negative conversations. Remember, this is your professional environment. Keep it that way.

Are you interested in taking a co-op program at Algonquin College? Are you an employer looking to hire an Algonquin co-op student? Get in touch with us! Visit our website at https://www.algonquincollege.com/coop/, connect with us at coop@algonquincollege.com or call us at 613-727-4723 Ext.7623.


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