Conflicts in the workspace are common incidents that we may all face. Learn how to address these conflicts alongside coping methods effectively.

Conflicts in the workplace can be tempted every day in a dynamic environment and cause feelings of sadness, anger, and pain. But, this is normal because corporations have diverse workforces; their employees come from different backgrounds and have different personalities and points of view. 

Some conflicts at the workplace might include: missing deadlines, not agreeing on a specific workflow, being undermined by managers and/or colleagues, and more. These and other conflicts can be divided into three types: relationship conflict, value conflict, and task conflict.

It is important to know that avoiding conflict or trying to prevent them in the first place doesn’t solve the problem; it may raise further disagreements. The key is to learn how to manage these conflicts effectively. In order to do so, employees must have the essential communication and social skills and tools to address these conflicts and actively work on resolving them. 

If implemented among employees and management, this positive attitude can make meeting organizational goals easier, build stronger bonds, and create a better work experience.

How can you do that?

How to adequately address conflicts at work:

1. Investigate the root cause of the problem. 

Searching for the cause of the conflict will help you understand how it started and why it escalated. Whether you are part of the conflict or just a third party, it is vital to address the needs and concerns of both ends. When you know the reason, solutions become much easier to raise. The key here is to ask a lot of questions to get as much information or details to have a clearer view and ensure both parties are aware of that. 

2. Practice active listening. 

Listening is different than active listening. When you listen actively, you focus on what is being said with an open mind and willingness to understand and compromise. Be attentive to the words, expressions, and body language of the people in front of you. After that, repeat what is being said and ask questions when possible to ensure proper understanding. It is essential to consider others’ points of view too.

3. Stay Calm. 

When addressing an argument, your tone of voice can impact how the listener receives your message. Make sure you stop for a moment before reacting, take a deep breath, and allow yourself to scan the situation quickly. Maintaining your calmness helps you think rationally and reduces stress levels among everyone. It’s not easy to anticipate how you might sound to others, so it’s important to let out any emotions of anger or sadness before discussing the topic to ensure both perspectives are openly and calmly discussed.

Don’t allow conflicts at the workplace to take a toll on your mental and emotional health. Adopting some communication skills and knowing that conflicts are necessary to learn and grow is a game changer.

How to cope with conflicts at work:

1. Don’t avoid conflict.

No problem is ever solved by being ignored. The key to resolving an argument is to face it with responsibility. Ignoring or avoiding conflicts is unhealthy and will make the situation more complicated, and you don’t want that to happen. This is the first step to properly addressing conflicts and reaching a common ground. If you keep on avoiding conflicts, your emotions will be trapped and burst out at the nearest opportunity. 

2. Look to the good side.

After facing and addressing the problem, it’s important to change your perspective on the issue. Instead of viewing conflict as negative and toxic, know it’s normal and necessary and search for how you can benefit from this situation to improve, learn, and grow. For example, if you’re arguing about the workflow schedule with your coworker and then, through active listening and proper communication, you reach common ground on how to distribute responsibilities fairly, this conflict actually leads to a solution and not another problem. 

3. Don’t bottle up your feelings and emotions

Communication is the key to solving so many problems. Speaking up for your rights and thoughts will guarantee that you made yourself clear to the other party, and there is less risk of ambiguity. Remember, the way you communicate makes a big difference. Be firm but polite in order to keep the discussion up to professional levels. 

4. Don’t aim to win the argument  

When you conflict with your coworker, remember that if the topic is not personal, there is nothing personal, and the argument is not a war between you. Practicing active listening and effective communication doesn’t count if you are moving forward with the mentality of “win or lose.” The aim should be to find common ground, compromise, and act with compassion while ensuring your rights are not being violated. 

5. Set Boundaries. 

Keep in mind that it’s essential to set your boundaries clearly before you decide to resolve the conflict. Your coworkers must be aware of certain limits to protect the discussion and ensure it’s productive and effective. It would be good to start your discussion with kind reminders that eases the stressed atmosphere. For example, tell them the importance of keeping this discussion private, honest, and respectful and the consequences of not following these boundaries. 

Conflicts at the workplace are regular and don’t necessarily mean you’re in a toxic environment. You might just be lacking the proper tools and skills for effective communication.

Learn to respect your coworkers at all times, listen to them with compassion, express your thoughts clearly, and strive to benefit from conflicts as a chance to improve instead of avoiding them.