Workplace conflict is bound to arise. Be it colleagues, clients or bosses, the time for a difficult conversation will happen at some point. You need to pick and choose your battles wisely. Just as much so, you need to be ready to stand up when it is the right time.
For some of us, this is not our natural disposition. However, in the workplace, we need to speak up because it is part of all our jobs.
Conflict is Needed at Times
It is understandable if you want to avoid conflict. Yet, think of all you have accomplished by not speaking up. The truth is, by not speaking up you remain trapped in your conflict.
It is essential for your growth that you engage in tense work situations from time to time. You should not seek out conflict, but when it arises, you should address it adequately. Doing so, proves your capabilities as a leader and, more so, as an adult.
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For many, they know that they have to speak but, but are held back for one reason or another. From self-preservation to perceptions of the workplace, a range of reasons hinder employees from adding this scenario to their day.
Unless your job or health is at risk, you have to overcome such hurdles. The following solutions should have you clearing common mental obstacles that surround office conflict.
Don’t Put Off a Talk
Our brains often justify waiting before acting. While sleeping on an idea certainly has merit, it doesn't when it comes to conflict. Often, only one side is aware of the problem. If you are that person, sitting on your frustration won't quell it one bit.
Holding in your frustration only allows for rumination. Your brain creates a swirl of what if scenarios and outcomes until your mind is a mess. Now, you’re all wound up, and the other side of the issue is likely none the wiser. When, if ever, you address the problem, it will now sound like a long-held point of conflict instead of a resolvable topic.
Stop Worrying About the
To begin with, what one says in an argument or in a terrible event can have far-reaching effects on the situation itself. Various instances can be accumulated that show that how one reacts to something is just as important as the solution to that problem. For example, as stated by Kim Morgan in “Resolving
What is the best way to respond to conflict? People respond to conflict in many different way and there are different ways to handle conflict. The best way to handle conflict is to stay positive. People can best respond to conflict by being positive and fighting the conflict head on. Though this could lead to fighting is is the best way to show feeling towards the topic or conflict.
We have a tendency to have dialogue as more of a fight than a conversation. Tannen says that “noticing that public discourse so often takes the form of heated arguments of having a fight” (Tannen, pg. 8).
But in this situation instead of standing up, or positively impacting the situation, it was I who created the toxic situation, and sometimes you need to really double check if you are, as my dad says, either ” helping or hurting”. The last of my prime examples is that every year I have to go with my younger brother to
Putting off or avoiding problems only makes them worse because you'll have to deal with them later. When dealing with times of conflict and war, celebrating someone else's best interests rather than your own may be more harmful than
Crucial Conversations Team 4: Jay Dave, Renee Kelley, Guillaume Lardeux, Matt Wieringa, Matt Wood Leadership Communication, EMBA 200C -- 20 August 2015 Acknowledgement: This learning module was inspired by the bestselling book Crucial Conversations (2012), written by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillian, and Al Switzler. The following learning modules have been created independently based on themes from the book. Introduction What is common in each of the following scenarios: giving the boss feedback about his/her behavior, discussing problems about physical intimacy with your spouse, and dealing with a rebellious teen?
Speaking your truth comes from a place of love and kindness. I truly believe that we are all good and have kindness to share with the world around us. When we have the urge to speak out of anger typically there is an underlining emotion that needs to be addressed by admitting our truth to ourselves. Admitting our truth to ourselves may be the hardest part. Accepting every emotion without blame or shame is a crucial element.
Bob’s Meltdown In today’s workplace communication is key, collaboration crucial and teamwork a top management buzzword. These facets encourage knowledge sharing, co‐operation and a joint sense of purpose. However, such an increase in interpersonal relationships too often creates an unwanted side effect: conflict. (http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/14777280310795784)
• When a conflict does arise, we will be respectful of each other and their opinions. This means we will give everyone an opportunity to voice their opinion. We will not interrupt anyone or downplay anyone’s views. • Once the resolution has taken place, we will not hold on to grudges or take anything personal.
I have had conflict with this one person that has made me overthink and overdue many things thanks to the worries that they have given me, and even if they apologized, nothing was ever the same as it was before. Even if I apologized, I wouldn’t even feel happy about it. I overthink certain things and when I think of apologizing, I get scared because I never know what they could have said. Every apology I made either came to a good conclusion or never ending arguments and hatred. So why even apologize even if you aren’t happy after it ends?
Despite this, many will argue that working out the problem until it is solved is the best solution. This method may be okay to use in some cases, but sometimes spending too much time dealing with one situation can be overwhelming. This may also lead to more problems, which is not necessary. Recovering quickly from conflict is essential. When responding to conflict, spend time to solve the problem, but not too much time to where it may progress.
My point of view is that it is better to speak up in order to solve the conflict. I think that it is better to speak up because there are so many people who are intimidated to say what they think. They keep quiet and are never heard. It is very significant for everyone’s opinion to be heard. Commonly when people are getting abused, for instance, they are terrified to tell someone about it, so they suffer.
Sandra Rodriguez There are numerous people that view or assume that conflict is destructive. But some other individuals perceive conflict in a different insight because there can be made changes to address the problems regarding the conflict. There are positives perspectives on conflict like it provides opportunities for individuals to present contradictory yet fairly valid views that allow the understanding of their contributions to their jobs. Many Health care workers face recurrent conflicts because of the lack of communication and making assumptions. Many staff members may claim that they are no conflicts in there workfield others may argue that this is the outcome of not acknowledging conflict.
His expression of surprise and anger when he realized how long this issue had been discussed in the background without his knowledge, or even a hint of a problem, suggests he felt the procedures followed to address the issue should have been different. A conflict can be composed of all or some of the four types: Goal, Cognitive, Affective and Procedural. Managing multiple types of conflict is sufficiently difficult but there is added complexity due to the need to assess the level of conflict. Dedicated attention to the complexity of conflict is necessary not only to avoid a dysfunctional dynamic but to also facilitate positive operational outcomes (Wombacher and Felfe,
Conflict resolution happens often in the workplace that can either drive or disturb employees, supervisors, a team, and an entire organization. When supervisors allow conflict resolution to fester without taking immediate action, it can lead the organization into an unhealthy environment. In this paper, the topic for discussion will analyze various strategies that can be utilized to control and manage conflict resolution in the workplace, and the role of the supervisor during conflict resolution situations. In addition, a discussion will include how the workplace and its customers are impacted by a diverse workforce. Conflict Resolution Conflict in the workplace is inevitable, especially in a diverse workforce where employees possess different approaches to his or her job and come from various backgrounds, who share a common work space within an organization (SHRM, 2015).