Mediate

When you feel a conversation heating up—fast—it’s probably time to step in and help mediate.

Pay close attention to the argument, and try to find some common ground between the two (or more) battling it out. If you can’t find anything, then come up with a suggestion of your own. Try to ease the tension, not add fuel to the fire.

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How to deal with uneasy tension in the office - SmartCompany

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smartcompany.com.au

As a business owner, one thing is inevitable, and that is workplace tension. People who work together every day under the stress of a work environment are bound to encounter tension at some time or another.

Key Ideas

Tension can be positive

In a business, conflict and tension, if well managed, can be positive and allow employees to grow.

A business that has no conflict and tension is often stagnant; people are not c...

There are three sides to every story

... “my side”, “your side” and the truth.

It is often helpful to take each party aside separately to find out their concerns, but over and above this try to find a neutral party who may have witnessed or seen the conflict from a different angle.

Talk it out

Once you have addressed the parties separately, tension will not be resolved until the parties are able to talk face to face.

This must always be done with a mediator who can remain objective. The mediator would have heard both sides and can better portray the feelings of each party to the other.

4 more ideas

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4 Reasons Your Constructive Criticism Keeps Going Over So Badly

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themuse.com

You're sitting in a team meeting and somebody suggests something that you think is completely ridiculous. You know you need to speak up and share your thoughts on the matter. So, you do. After you step down off your soapbox, your team member leaves in a huff and there's tension so thick that you could cut it with a butter knife.

Key Idea

4 Reasons Giving Constructive Criticism Goes Bad

You’re not offering anything constructive if all you do is point out problems. You can still direct attention to an issue, but make sure that you follow up with a helpful su...

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11 Ways To Diffuse The Tension And Get Along With Difficult Colleagues

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forbes.com

When hiring new talent, most employers try to match their company's values and culture with potential employees. However, in a diverse office with workers of various interests and personalities, it's not uncommon to experience occasional tension. Toxic personalities aren't always obvious in the hiring process, and they may emerge well after an employee has been onboard.