HOW TO MANAGE AND RESOLVE CONFLICT?
Conflicts can occur in any organization when employees with different backgrounds and priorities work together. We need a special set of strategies, understanding, good communication and calm tempers to resolve and manage such conflicts.
INVESTIGATE THE ORIGIN AND SOURCE OF CONFLICT
The first step in resolving conflict is to clarify its source. Defining the cause of the conflict will enable to understand how the issue started. This can certainly be one of the most difficult aspects of managing conflict in the workplace. As with any disagreement, chances are that every person involved has their own perspective on what happened, and who is right.
TALK TO BOTH SIDES
Talk to both the parties separately, you may need to take notes on each person’s version of the conflict. Even if you are talking to the parties personally, you still need to have an impartial attitude so neither one feels as though you are taking sides. Sometimes you can also speak to both the parties together, although it’s good to avoid an initial discussion with both people at once. Ask each person what caused the conflict, if there have been past conflicts, and get everyone’s opinion. After talking to all the parties, you may need to discuss everything with relevant management members.
INVESTIGATE THE SITUATION
After listening to both the sides, take time and investigate the case. Do not come up with the final verdict, just after talking to both the parties. Have an individual conversation with all those who are involved. Dig deeper and find out more about the happenings, involved parties, the issues, and how people are feeling.
DETERMINE WAYS TO MEET THE COMMON GOAL
After you have investigated everything, you need to sit down with both the parties and discuss the common ways you can execute to meet the common goal. You need to listen, communicate and brainstorm together until you exhaust all options. Try managing and resolving the matter at hand.
AGREE ON THE BEST SOLUTION
After you are done with every step, you need to find ways to resolve the problem. Both parties need to develop conclusion on the best solution for the problem. And to agree on the best you need to find a common ground and identify the solutions which each party can live with.
FIND HOW TO AVOID SUCH CONFLICTS IN THE FUTURE
The solution you find to avoid future conflicts will heavily depend on the conflict you just resolved. Best way to avoid such conflicts is to keep employees at a distance from one another and having both agree to keep a professional attitude at work.
