What You Should Know About Conflict Resolution

Are you a team leader or working in a managerial role?

Conflict can be inevitable when you are working with a team or managing a group of employees. When employees clash, it could be a reflection of how passionate they are about the project; conflicts can negatively affect work if left unaddressed, however. Team members and managers should be well-versed in conflict resolution techniques, some of which are outlined below.

1. Find the communication weak spot

Most conflicts in the workplace arise from miscommunication and can become more intense if an employee feels like they aren't being heard. Try to identify where communication can be improved, for example, introduce regular meetings or conference calls where employees can provide updates on their work or receive/provide feedback. If communication happens naturally within the team, there are less opportunities for conflict.

2. Establish priorities

Conflict between employees, or even entire departments, can arise due to unclear priorities, as all parties will fight for what they believe is more important to them. This can be diffused to some extent by establishing business/project priorities so that clear direction is set from the get-go.

3. Have faith in your judgement

When conflict occurs, it is important to listen to both sides of the argument, and ultimately, to have faith in your final judgement. Employees respond well to strong leadership and strong decision-making, so once you have resolved the conflict, stick to whatever resolution you have decided on. Listening and communicating one-on-one with the parties involved can also help them accept your decision, as they will appreciate the time you have spent listening to them.

4. Learn from experience

Much like mistakes, conflicts can be turned into positive learning experiences, both for yourself and the individuals involved. Identify the cause of the conflict and put systems/processes in place to prevent it from happening again, where possible.