CONFLICT
MANAGEMENT
“Conflict should be
addressed head-on before it has the opportunity to escalate and become toxic.”
- Stuart Hearn
Work place conflict can make the difference between employees
feeling engaged and motivated or disgruntled and disheartened. Workplace
conflict can exist due to differences in employees’ personalities and
principles. Tension in the workplace can affect the business’ turnover rates,
meaning the sooner it are dealt with, the better.
1.
PROVIDE
COMMUNICATION SKILLS TRAINING
Ø One of the most common causes of workplace conflict is either the
lack of or poor communication.
Ø Employees being confused as to what their job role is, what they
need to achieve or what is going on within the workplace can lead to conflict.
Ø Clear, concise, accurate, and timely communication of information
will help to ease both the number and severity of conflicts.
2.
POSITIVE WORK
RELATIONSHIPS
Ø Give employees a chance to get to know each other better and to
feel more comfortable with each other.
Ø This can be done by providing opportunities for social interaction
on a continuous basis, by giving assignments that put staff into contact with
people they don't normally interact with, and by providing cross-training
opportunities.
3. PROVIDE
CONFLICT MEDIATION TRAINING FOR LEADERS
Ø Organizational leaders should develop their conflict mediation
skills so they can help employees resolve the conflicts that will inevitably
arise.
4. ENHANCE
TEAM CULTURE
Ø For a team to be productive it should be definitely have a
supportive culture. There should be proper assistance between the employees.
Ø Regular team building exercises should be undertaken to develop
stronger relationships and mutual trust.
5. DEVELOP POSITIVE WORK
RELATIONSHIPS
Ø Give employees a chance to get to know each other better and to
feel more comfortable with each other. This can be done by providing
opportunities for social interaction on a continuous basis, by giving
assignments that put staff into contact with people they don't normally
interact with, and by providing cross-training opportunities.
6. CONFLICT RESOLUTION TRAINING
Ø Can reduce the negative impact of conflict by helping employees
develop the skills they need to successfully resolve the conflicts that occur
in their lives.
Ø This gives people more
confidence in their ability to resolve both personal and professional conflict.
7.
TREAT EVERYONE FAIRLY
Ø This may seem obvious, but many people are accused of preferential
treatment, and it is incumbent upon organizational leaders to make sure they
are behaving in an egalitarian fashion.
Ø Even the appearance of preferential behavior can create conflict
situations.
8. FEEDBACK SYSTEM
Ø Conflict typically happens when an issue isn’t addressed while it
is still small.
Ø To avoid this from
happening, you can hold regular meetings where the whole team gives feedback
about what is working and what isn’t and brainstorms on what to do going
forward. That way, you deal with issues while they are still minor.
9. PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO EACH PERSON’S CONCERN’S
Ø While trying to resolve the conflict, do not bring the issues that
the individuals do not want to talk about.
Ø Resolving workplace conflicts can lead to a positive professional
culture and healthier professional relationships.
10ARRANGE FOR MEETINGS
Ø Set up a time and place so people can talk for an extended
span without outside interruptions.
Ø Each person should talk about the disagreements and how he or she
feels about the situation.
11 MAKE CLEAR IDEA OF JOB ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES DURING INTERVIEW
Ø It should be made very clear to the employees that what kind of
job role they are going to be assigned and their responsibilities.
Ø The role should be explained during the time of interview itself
so that the conflicts will be avoided between the employees and the management.
1 ALWAYS SHARE VALUES
Ø Value incongruities usually give rise to conflicts. Every member
is unique and that uniqueness should be respected as each individual may want
to take different path to achieve a common goal.
“Conflict can destroy a
team which hasn’t spent time learning to deal with it”
-
Thomas Isgar
By
Ms.M.Darneshree
Assistant Professor
Dpt of Interior Design and Decor
