If you own or run a business, you have experienced the conflicts that can occur between employees with uniquely different attitudes, beliefs, training, ideals, and experience. It’s impossible to prevent all workplace conflict, but there are effective ways to resolve disputes in the office. Owners and managers are the ones responsible for diffusing workplace tensions. In order to create a cooperative and productive work environment, you must turn emotionally-charged discussions into a positive direction. It’s not always easy to deal with conflicts, but the following tips offer some effective solutions.
The Work Environment
The media is constantly assailing people with new conflict terminology. Employees often seem to use a simple action, or lack of one, to complain about a co-worker. Jealousies and tempers can flare up over any perceived favoritism. A healthy work environment requires strong management and leadership skills, along with a dose of patience. It is essential to have a workplace conflict policy in place, and it must be read and signed by every employee at all levels. This policy must outline the steps employees should follow if they believe someone is deliberately harassing them or violating company rules.
The Causes Of Workplace Conflict
There are many situations that erupt into conflict for a variety of causes. Jealousy, pride, and ego are the top three problems and they may manifest themselves in different ways. Competition, productivity, salary, and power struggles are also major causes of workplace conflict. Problems at home also come into the workplace and cause disruption, because the employee is already having a bad day when he or she arrives. It seems like almost anything can cause problems, so what is a manager to do? First take a look at the very basics of a conflict. They are generally caused by poor communication skills or the lack of emotional control.
- Poor Communication Skills Many conflicts are the result of poorly communicated information. When the information provided refers to a job description and work-related responsibilities, it must be stated or written in a clear, accurate, and descriptive manner. Employees who are confused by poorly written instructions will be upset if they are disciplined for not completing the job correctly. If your management team is not demonstrating effective communication skills, there will be conflicts arise. Hold a communications training seminar for management and diffuse potential work problems ahead of time.
- Lack Of Emotional Control Many people have difficulty controlling their emotions and react to a situation before thinking it through. This problem can be caused by several issues, which include feelings of insecurity, low self-esteem, anger, jealousy, and superiority. Employees often care more about their feelings than their job security, and will lash out in anger at another employee, management, or even a customer. People in management positions too often allow their emotions to drive their decisions. Employees do lose control of their emotions sometimes, and that is the reason a conflict management resolution process is vitally important.
How To Reduce Workplace Conflict
Employees must know what behavior is acceptable and what is not. Do not assume people automatically know. Put your behavior policy on paper, have everyone read and sign it. A written policy will reduce the amount of conflict and make it easier to diffuse it when it arises. Morning meetings should also be a source of information on office behavior, productivity, team-building, and collaboration practices. If extensive encouragement is offered in these areas, it can prevent conflicts from occurring.
- Job Description Provide every employee with a clearly defined job description. It’s essential that people know what is expected of them and who to go to if they have questions. There should be a communication chain of command that ensures everyone receives the same information regarding work projects. This one step can eliminate most of the “misunderstanding” conflicts that arise when information does not all come from a single source.
- Diffusing Conflict Learn how to spot problems by observing interactions between employees. Look for those areas where the potential for conflict is building. Intervene and reduce the severity by dealing with conflict potential immediately. Reduce workplace tensions by helping people achieve their goals. Positive actions decrease the number of obstacles that get in the way of office productivity and cooperation between employees and departments.
- Regular Meetings And Training Conflict can be turned into an opportunity for teaching. When you meet with employees, including management, refer to past conflicts to show how they decrease productivity, interfere with progress, and affect everyone’s personal work goals. Discuss the benefits of team-building, encourage active listening, building on common ground, and developing co-worker friendships. Allow time for individual employees to comment and make suggestions without interruption.
It’s impossible to totally rid the workplace of conflict, but it can certainly be greatly reduced. When you are unable to resolve a conflict between employees, remove the instigator as professionally as possible. You must provide a comfortable environment for people to work, and that sometimes means someone has to leave.