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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