CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Conflict Resolution In The Workplace
BY: STACY CONNOLLY SHRM-CP, PAYROLL & HR ADMINISTRATOR, A. I. M. MUTUAL
CONFLICT— WHETHER we’ d like to admit it or not, it’ s an inevitable occurrence. When it comes to the workplace, conflict is a common thread,
“ WHEN CONFLICTS ARE AVOIDED AND NOT ADDRESSED HEAD ON, THEY CAN OFTEN HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME MUCH BIGGER PROBLEMS THAN THE ORIGINAL CONFLICTS EVER WERE.”
weaving its way through each and every department without missing a beat. But unlike so many other areas in everyday life where conflict can arise, workplace conflict is one area that you cannot— and should not— ignore.
When it comes to job-related conflict, it’ s important to think in terms of resolution. To get to that point, however, steps should be taken to ensure the conflict is recognized, properly addressed, and rectified. So often when issues arise and conflict occurs, our first instinct is to avoid and ignore it. The problem with this method, though, especially when it comes to the workplace, is that when conflicts are avoided and not addressed head on, they can often have the potential to become much bigger problems than the original conflicts ever were.
Take, for example, a disagreement that occurs between two groups on a workplace team. The team members from each group have conflicting ideas on implementing a new procedure and cannot come to an agreement on which method would be most effective. The groups go back and forth during a workshop, each side presenting their case, debating the effectiveness of each method. When they cannot reach common ground, tensions become high and the team loses focus on the task at hand. They begin to argue more than debate, and the meeting spirals. Some team members suggest reaching out to their supervisor for further guidance and mediation.
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