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7 Ground Rules for Dealing with Interpersonal Conflict at Work
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Interpersonal Issues
When it happens in the workplace, it can reduce productivity and make a dent in morale.
It takes on the shape that one person, or a group of people, frustrates or hampers another person or group's efforts at achieving a goal. This isn’t always done on purpose.
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Types of Interpersonal Conflict
- Policy Conflicts: disagreements about how to deal with a situation that affects both parties.
- Value Conflicts: they are typically pretty difficult to resolve because they are more ingrained.
- Ego Conflicts: losing an argument, or being thought of as wrong, can actually damage a person’s self-esteem. This is like a power struggle.
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What Causes Interpersonal Conflict
- Frustration and stress
- Misunderstandings
- Lack of planning
- Bad staff selection
- Poor Communication
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Dealing with Interpersonal Conflict
- Acknowledge the conflict and look at it objectively.
- Open up the lines of communication and approach the conflict in the spirit of collaboration.
- Focus on the problem, not the other person.
- Stick to the facts.
- Meet face to face. It’s difficult to truly address a conflict virtually.
- Pick your battles. There’s only so much we can do.
- Make a decision and act on it.
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SIMILAR ARTICLES & IDEAS:
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Leadership and conflict go hand-in-hand
Conflict in the workplace is unavoidable. While you can try and avoid conflict (bad idea), you cannot escape conflict.
The ability to recognize conflict, understand the nature of...
Unresolved conflict
... often results in loss of productivity, the stifling of creativity, and the creation of barriers to cooperation and collaboration.
Leaders who don’t deal with conflict will eventually watch their good talent walk out the door in search of a healthier and safer work environment.
2 Major causes of conflict
- Communication: Conflict due to the lack of information, poor information, no information, or misinformation. Clear, concise, accurate, and timely communication of information will help to ease both the number and severity of conflicts.
- Emotions: Letting emotions drive decisions. Don't place emotional superiority ahead of achieving your mission.
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Effective communication
... is imperative for every successful business. Poor communication inevitably causes misunderstandings, confusion and conflicts that hinder productivity and professi...
Effective Communication is vital in business
- It helps to create effective brand messaging. It determines how your brand is perceived and also builds trust with customers.
- Customer service relies on good communication. "60% of consumers have stopped doing business with a brand due to a poor customer service experience." Microsoft’s 2016 Global State of Customer Service Report.
- It enables positive team relationships. Effective communication helps to unite teams and create a safe environment to express themselves.
It helps to prevent misunderstandings and conflicts. It can help to defuse a potentially explosive dispute while bad communication can set it off.
Worst Communication Mistakes
- Using a One-Size-Fits-All Communication Approach. Tailor the communication style to the intended audience.
- Speaking More and Listening Less. Listen to what is said, how it is said, and to what is not said.
- Assuming Instead of Asking More Questions.
- Using Negative Tone. Choose words carefully to eliminate negative reactions.
Avoiding Difficult Conversations.
Reacting, Not Responding.
Not Keeping an Open Mind. Accept and respect differences, listen without judgment and consider all sides of an issue.
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Key Ideas
Strong work relationships
Workplaces are communities. Healthy relationships can be a source of energy, learning, and support. When they break down, they become sources of frustration that harm people and organizations.
...Reset the emotional tone
When we notice some tension in your work relationships, it is better to reset the emotional tone rather than pulling away. Do this by bringing up positive memories with your colleague, which can strengthen your bond and counterbalance the negative feelings so you can express them effectively.
The purpose is to create a supportive environment where you can talk about the issues without creating further damage to your relationship.
Re-establish a positive emotional tone
- Raise the issue. "I know that we are not seeing eye-to-eye on this issue right now, and it is upsetting for both of us, but I'm really optimistic we can work this out."
- Suggest a time out or try a brief topic change.
- Commit to a shared relationship goal. Agree that your relationship is important and that you both want to restore mutual positive feelings.
- Craft your shared narrative to increase the willingness to forgive and reconcile. Reflect on how both your actions contributed to the failure. Assume the best about the other person's intentions.