Conflicts are inevitable in the work setting. It can arise from several sources. Some common causes include personality clashes, disagreements about work procedures, and difficulties with managers or supervisors.
Although conflicts are impossible to avoid, you can manage your way out of them. With enough knowledge and expertise, workplace disputes are easy to handle. This article will review practical approaches to resolving workplace disputes constructively and professionally.
Adopting a Collaborative Approach
One of the firmest strategies in handling conflicts is to work it out through a collaborative approach. The process is similar to negotiating, but it operates differently.
In negotiations, there’s always an aim to be gained, and both parties will strive for their own best interest. With collaboration, the primary focus is to reach an agreement to satisfy both parties. It is done through giving and taking, compromising, and finding satisfactory solutions to everyone involved.
The collaborative approach effectively resolves disputes because it focuses on the long-term relationship between stakeholders rather than their specific interests. When this approach is used, both you and your co-workers will consider how your decisions will affect everyone in the long run.
The aim is to return to a working relationship with no tension or animosity. For this reason alone, it’s best to avoid blaming anyone for what happened. Instead, it would help find solutions and improve future relationships between the stakeholders involved.
Seeking Outside Assistance
Another approach you can consider is to seek an outside party that can help settle your dispute. Getting a third-party involved has always been the best way to resolve conflict in most settings, including workplaces. There are many options available, but it’s essential to select a person or organization that you trust and will be able to handle your matter professionally and fairly.
A good employment mediation service will help you determine who is at fault and what can resolve the conflict. This person must be willing to listen to both parties and make fair judgments based on solid facts and evidence of each side. Part of their job will also include market research, background checking, and some other methods to help them better understand what happened and who was at fault.
Formal Procedures
If the conflict is too complicated for collaborative approaches, you can look into formal procedures already in place by your organization. Most internal policies will require adherence to specific steps before moving on to the dispute resolution phase.
If you believe that your organization is refusing or delaying the process of handling your conflict, you can also file a formal complaint by going to court. Bear in mind that this can result in lawsuits, primarily if you’re not representing yourself.
It’s advisable to choose the least formal method that will still resolve your dispute promptly. If you have evidence of an unresolved conflict, consider filing a complaint with the employer or initiating court proceedings earlier rather than later. The longer it takes to settle disputes, the more hostile relationships between you and your colleagues will become.
What should be turned down is to consider violence as a means for resolving disputes, especially if it involves striking back at someone who’s already tried hitting first. This approach can quickly escalate into an even bigger problem that might result in imminent termination or severe penalties imposed by law enforcement agencies.
Combining Approaches
The best way to resolve disputes is by combining different approaches. You can use formal procedures for more straightforward matters, while collaborative approaches are better suited for more complicated situations.
To have a successful resolution, you should try to keep an open mind and listen to other people’s views instead of getting too attached to your own opinions. This way, you can look at all possible solutions to a specific problem and develop a comprehensive approach that will benefit everyone involved. Try these approaches when dealing with a dispute in the workplace to have a good chance at a positive outcome.
Handling conflicts in the workplace can be complex, but you can adopt many strategies to resolve disputes. In most cases, it’s best to adopt a collaborative approach and focus on the long-term relationship between stakeholders. You can also seek outside assistance from a third party to help mediate the situation. If the conflict is too complicated, you can use formal procedures last resort.
By combining different approaches, you can find a satisfactory resolution for everyone involved. The key takeaway here is to take a holistic view of your current situation and look for a comprehensive approach that will help resolve a conflict in the most effective manner possible.
