Glassdoor* says there are a host of skills people can use to smooth out workplace conflict and improve their working relationships.
Even if you work for the most harmonious company, it’s likely that you are going to encounter some tense situations over the course of your career.
When this situation involves you and another person you work with, it’s considered an interpersonal conflict.
When dealing with conflict, there are certain skills you can use to better cooperate with those you disagree with.
Here we discuss what this kind of conflict entails and share tips for conflict resolution.
What is interpersonal conflict?
Interpersonal conflict is when a disagreement between you and another person leads to tension.
You may see such disagreements among families, friends, and even colleagues.
Although such conflict is typically emotional rather than physical, if things rapidly escalate it can become volatile.
When dealing with such conflict at work, it can be challenging to confront the issue since you are in a professional setting and may not feel comfortable discussing such matters with colleagues or clients.
Here are a few examples of interpersonal conflict you may see in the workplace:
- Your coworker openly criticises the work you do.
- An upset customer has insulted you out of frustration.
- Your employer loses their temper over a mistake you made.
- One colleague found out that another colleague was gossiping about them.
- You and your cubicle neighbour keep bickering.
- You find your coworker’s habits increasingly upsetting.
When these types of conflict arise in the workplace, it can create a negative office atmosphere.
If employees can’t get along, the office may become a tense or hostile place to work.
Likewise, conflict can make it challenging to collaborate which can cause productivity to slip.
That’s why it’s so important to have the skills to overcome conflict and resolve tense issues.
Top conflict resolution skills
In order to resolve interpersonal conflict, you can develop the following conflict resolution skills:
Active listening
This is the process of giving another person your undivided attention as they speak.
The goal of active listening is to fully understand what someone else is saying and to show them that you are listening.
Nonverbal cues such as head nodding, smiling, making eye contact, and sitting up straight all indicate you are invested in the conversation.
Paraphrasing and asking follow-up questions can also help you facilitate better communication.
When you make a point to understand another person’s side of the story, it may be easier to see their perspective and come to a resolution.
Communication
Facilitating open communication can help you avoid any interpersonal disputes in the first place.
When people feel comfortable discussing their thoughts and feelings, you can come to quicker compromises before letting everything bubble up under the surface.
Open communication also means that you are regularly checking in with your team to see how they’re doing.
If they express they are upset or if you can tell that they are by their body language, make an effort to have an open and honest discussion with them.
Emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand your own emotions and the emotions of others.
Those with high emotional intelligence are quite empathetic and aware of how their colleagues are feeling.
This skill makes it easier to connect with others and find a compromise.
When practicing emotional intelligence, you are making an effort to respond to situations in a nonreactive and productive way.
Stress management
When you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, it can be easy to lose control of your emotions. Too much stress can lead to:
- Snapping under pressure
- A poor attitude
- Illogical reactions
By managing your own stress and helping others feel calm too, you can foster a better work environment.
When everyone is calm and collected, they can better manage their emotions and treat others with respect.
Tips for resolving interpersonal conflict
If you are in the middle of interpersonal conflict at work, try these strategies to overcome the situation:
Try to be impartial
This tip is especially important when you are trying to help two coworkers diffuse a tense situation.
Rather than picking sides, try to understand both sides of a situation.
This can help you come to a comprise instead of pointing fingers at one party.
Say ‘I’ statements
Instead of putting all the blame on the other person by starting a sentence with ‘you,’ try using ‘I’ statements to show how you are feeling.
For instance, ‘You always interrupt conversations.’ sounds much more hostile than ‘I would appreciate it if you gave me a chance to share my thoughts.’
‘I’ statements can make the other person feel less defensive and be more open to critique.
Remain calm
Yelling and screaming at work is completely unprofessional, which is why you should always remain calm even in tense situations.
By keeping yourself composed, you can have more meaningful discussions with the other person.
If you feel your frustration rising, walk away for a moment and take a few deep breaths.
Avoid gossip
The only time you should speak about another coworker’s behaviour is to their face or if you are reporting a genuine concern to your manager or human resources department.
When you talk behind their back, you are creating a negative work environment.
They also could find out what you said, which can be hurtful and escalate the situation.
Know when to compromise
Sometimes it’s better to come to a comprise than to prove your point of view is right.
If a situation is becoming exhausting, it can be better to find a middle ground and move on.
Learn to forgive
If you were in the wrong, you would hope that a coworker can accept your apology.
This is why you should do the same for them. Everyone makes mistakes, and owning up to them is a big deal.
By learning to forgive and move on, you can start focusing on the positive aspects of work life.
*Glassdoor is one of the world’s largest job and recruiting sites.
This article first appeared at glassdoor.com
