Tips on Effective Conflict Management
Conflict is something that we all feed on, especially in corporate workplaces. It is a universal virtue that comes across when you are dealing with different people. We all know that all people are not the same; neither can they be expected to be the same. When a leader leads a complex project or works on drafting an organization growth plan, he works with multiple teams spread across multiple regions. Multiple brains result in multiple opinions and more conflicts. As a leader, taking appropriate actions to salvage a situation of conflict at the earliest is the best way to move forward
Here is my attempt to write down some tips that help us to manage conflict better
1. Take a step back — introspect
If you feel attacked by someone’s behavior toward you, first take action back and calm yourself down. Maybe you have been at fault or not, and perhaps that person has not put out his feedback in the most appropriate way, it does not mean you also jump the gun and begin a brawl. First, introspect. Ask yourself if you had anything to do with the problem at hand? Are they addressing the issue or making it personal? Are they complying with the business etiquette and code of conduct of your organization? Even if all the above questions are in your favor, try and be amicable and respectful. Just because you understand the right way to behave, it does not mean everyone does. Emotions rule people. Ensure you make them understand that while their point is well taken, it could have been put across in a more approachable and dignified manner.
2. Don’t shoot from the hip
It is a standard term that many leaders before us have tried to imbibe as an organizational culture in terms of handling conflict. You are a professional at work, not a cowboy that if you don’t like something you will simply shoot. What do we mean by that?
When in conflict, always set a meeting with the concerned person. Don’t do this while you both are still in the zone of conflict mentally. Allow some time to pass and let each other cool off. It is not essential that you have to say something right there and then to make matters worse.
Once emotions do not rule you, set a meeting with that person. First, address his concern. Realize where he is coming from and what it is that he is trying to convey. Put that out of the way by resolving the issue at hand. Lastly, give him/her feedback on his sudden outburst.
3. Understand that conflict is natural, not personal
Understand that when you are working with individuals who are equally or more intellectually leveled as you are, there are going to be conflicts and differences in opinions. Don’t treat conflict as an enemy that should not happen. Embrace conflicts to be default as long as they are healthy.
Someone disagreeing with you doesn’t necessarily mean he/she is attacking you personally. It can just mean they have a different, and sometimes that viewpoint might be a better one than yours. The more open you are to people holding conflicting opinions than yours, the more transparent and free people will be with you. Most of the time, conflicts give rise to great organizational successes.
Wrap up
Expect conflict at your workplace, manage it through resilience, and what you will be left with will be an un-shakeable team spirit who embraces conflict, works through it and gets the job done.
