Ever felt bullied in the workplace? Or, experienced a conflict that has seriously affected the way you feel about going to work? You’re not alone. Workplace conflict is, to a degree, inevitable when you get different personalities working together day in day out. The question is: what should you do when it happens?
The key warning signs of workplace conflict are;
- People aren’t performing
- People are disengaging
- People are leaving
- Increased sick leave
- Rule breaking
- Lack of cooperation and respect
The warning signs can show up as causes or effects. For example: if people aren’t working cooperatively, as a cause of conflict this can be when a co-worker doesn’t keep us in the loop, share information or treat us as a member of the team. The effect of this conflict can cause all manner of day to day organisational problems as well as anger, frustration and resentment. Given good communication is what organizations rely on to thrive and succeed; this kind of conflict will have serious consequences.
The following are five suggestions on what people can do when they’re confronted by conflict at work.
- The first thing is to just keep in mind that the other person is not against you. They’re just for themselves. If something feels personal, it’s probably not. It’s just the other person trying to achieve something personally. Whilst conflict isn’t always bad, healthy competition can be excellent for productivity and idea generation. Recognising when a conflict has gone beyond being healthy is the key.
- Secondly, try to figure out what it is they value. It might be respect, security, or economy, that kind of thing. If you spend some time trying to discover that information, then it’s easier for you to come up with a solution that could work for the parties in conflict.
- Thirdly, deal directly with the other person. Often it is tempting to talk to third parties and that doesn’t solve anything. Building armies, amassing allies, and separating yourself from the other person rarely solves the issue. As much as possible, if you have a problem with someone, go to them.
- Control your own emotions and how you’re going to handle the situation. Adhere to a professional code of conduct despite what the other person is doing.
- And lastly, find the learning experience. Find the thing that’s going to move you ahead in terms of your professional conduct. Was there something you said or did that made this situation go longer or worse than it should have?
The effect a workplace conflict can have on a person’s life should not be underestimated. Recognising the warning signs is the first step, then importantly, taking action rather than thinking the problem will just resolve itself and go away.
Deciding to take charge, both attitudinally and in action is not only necessary, it is crucial. Most importantly, learning how to handle workplace conflict can help you grow as a person, and enable you to progress professionally.
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This Post is republished on Medium.
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Photo credit: iStock
