Skip to main content

Conflict Management Tips, Tools, Quotes

workplace conflict management
In the business environment, conflict may arise when there are differences of opinion among different team members. Conflict may crop up when two or more persons have different ideas to pursue common objectives. Proper conflict management may result in positive learning experiences for everyone. Unmanaged or poorly managed conflicts may further result in loss of trust and productivity, which may prove risky for a business. By learning the basics of conflict management, you can deal with conflicts better before they escalate.



Every kind of peaceful cooperation among men is primarily based on mutual trust and only secondarily on institutions such as courts of justice and police" -- Albert Einstein

Conflict Management Tips
No business environment is an exception to conflict. Conflicts may arise when team members working to achieve the same goal have different ideas as to how to accomplish the objective. Such differences of opinion among team members could result in a conflicting situation.
Learning to manage conflict is an essential element in team building in an organization. With conflict management skills, you are less likely to practice destructive behavior that may adversely affect your team, as unresolved conflict can result in aggression.

1.       Acknowledge the problem: Since conflict is unavoidable in most situations, it is important that you learn to manage it. In order to resolve conflict, the conflicting individuals must address the issues between them. Accept that conflict is a sign that things need a change.
2.       Don’t overreact: Anger is man’s worst enemy. Your response to the conflict can make or mar your relationship with the other person. It is your response that can escalate or reduce the magnitude of the problem. It is best to be calm in a conflicting situation, which may help you reach a neutral point of view to resolving the conflict.
3.       Use a soft tone: The worst thing in a conflicting situation is to be over-reactive, use inflammatory language, and not listen to the other side. Listen carefully and use the correct tone when responding. Your tone should be such that the information is less emotionally laden.
4.       Analyze: Analyze the conflict by trying to find answers to these questions. What are the triggers? Are you afraid of losing something? Why are you angry? Who are you angry with? Is your anger exaggerated? Are you willing for a resolution? How can the conflict be resolved?
5.       Maintain confidentiality: Rumors can further escalate the conflict. It is best to encourage the conflicting sides to deal directly with each other, instead of venting to others, and maintain confidentiality. Airing your views to others only fuels the rumor mill, which can escalate the conflict. Encourage both sides to work out a plan to settle their differences and also quell rumors that are part of the conflict.
6.       Be clear about your requirements: It is a good conflict management skill to be specific about your needs. It is irrational and illogical to expect others to understand what you need, without being told about it. They need to be told about your specific requirement. Do you want them to say sorry or you want them to give the rest of the weekend to rethink and introspect.
7.       Communicate with the opposition: In conflicting situations, when the tension is running high, the best strategy to resolve conflict is to find common ground with the opposition and reach compromises or agreements.
8.       Hit conflict head-on: The key to resolving conflict lies with preventing them in the first place. Seek out areas of potential conflict. Is a situation ripe that could lead to serious conflict? It would be a good decision to proactively intervene so that conflict is prevented before it could erupt. However, if a conflict does flair up, your intervention would minimize its severity.
9.       Don’t use coercion, force, or intimidation: Coercion or emotional outbursts may only help to stop the problem temporarily. You should not be surprised if the same problem resurfaces. Sometimes intimidation may cause the problem to balloon out of control. Wait for your angry emotions to cool down and tell yourself that you want peace of mind, and the conflict would only ruin your inner peace. Emotional self-control is a trick that can come in handy in such situations.
10.   Establish guidelines: Keep the communication open and let the conflicting sides agree to the established guidelines before conducting a formal meeting between them. The best way is to let each side express themselves calmly and unemotionally. Let them know that if they violate the guidelines, there would be no end to the conflict. Convince them to spend some time to understand each other’s perspective.


conflict management- image2

Conflict Management Quotes
1.       “We need to learn and to show others that there are tried and tested, powerful ways of containing and resolving conflict which do not require the use of force.” -- Scilla Elworthy
2.       "Whenever you're in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude." -- William James
3.       “During a negotiation, it would be wise not to take anything personally. If you leave personalities out of it, you will be able to see opportunities more objectively.”-- Brian Koslow
4.       "Bringing a problem to resolution and closure through continued discussion and compromise is an honorable act as it shows respect for the needs of both partners." -Lynne Namka
5.       “You will not be punished for your anger; you’ll be punished by your anger.”- Buddha
6.       “Conflict cannot survive without your participation.” – Dr. Wayne Dyer
7.       “To practice the process of conflict resolution, we must completely abandon the goal of getting people to do what we want.” –Marshall B. Rosenberg
8.       “A positive attitude may not resolve all our issues or eliminate all our stressors, but it is the only attitude which can shine light on the way out, or the way through.” – Doe
9.       “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” – Thomas Paine
10.   “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.” – Mark Twain
Conflict Management Tools:
1.       Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI®):  TKI helps you understand how conflict arises and assesses an individual’s behavior in conflict situations. The tool provides information on different conflict-handling styles that influence group and interpersonal dynamics and to empower conflicting individuals to choose the appropriate conflict handling styles for a specific situation.
2.       LBi HR HelpDesk:  This is a web-based HR case management solution, where managers can easily access every case’s workflow, notes, documents, data, and history of transactions for review and resolution. With an automated HR help desk, it is simple to the relevant case documents with the appropriate people.
3.       Notredamonline: This course is designed for all kinds of workplace conflicts. Learn key negotiation and conflict management tools and techniques so that your team works in a harmonious environment!
4.       Plural Sight: In this course, you will learn how to identify conflict before it becomes a crisis. The course teaches some practical tools that will help you prevent conflict before it balloons out of control.
5.       HRIS: If employees get into a confrontation, you can leverage this software to get access to fact-based data. The information can help you ease the situation and resolve the issue from aggravating further. You can use the tool to provide real answers to the issues concerning the conflicting employees.
6.       Core plus: The workplace conflict resolution plus program provides you with a safe environment to raise workplace concerns and explore conflict resolution options. The program is aimed at building productive teams and reducing workplace tensions.
7.     Resolve: The conflict manager is designed to help users learn how to identify potential workplace conflicting situations and prevent problems before they take the form of tragedies. Designed with efficient workflow capabilities, Resolve offers users a revolutionary communication platform for resolving conflicts.
8.       WorkinItOut: This soft skill training program is useful for non-traditional workers to prepare for the challenging demands of today’s workplace. It helps participants learn how to resolve conflicts and improve interpersonal relationships.
9.       LearningExpress: The workplace skill development course offers an array of interactive resources for participants to enhance soft skills needed for success at work.


Image credit: http://blog.vistage.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Conflict-Management.jpg
Image 2: http://www.expertbusinessanalyst.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/manage-the-conflicts-300x300.jpg

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Can we use the soaked water for millets? Does millet need to be soaked?

Do millets contain anti-nutrients? Yes, they do. In fact, all whole grains, including oats, contain phytates, which bind to minerals and make their absorption difficult for the body.  Soaking is the first step toward reducing anti-nutrients from millets. Soak for at least 6-8 hours to make digestion easier. Discard the soaked water and then proceed to the next step of cooking. Remove foam from top to reduce gassy elements from millets. why you should not eat millets unsoaked #shortsfeed #shortsvideo #shorts  Is it necessary to soak millets? How long do you need to soak millet? Can you eat soaked millet? How long does millet take to digest? Why soak millets for constipation benefits of soaking millet how to soak millet overnight little millet soaking time should foxtail millet be soaked before cooking how long should millet be soaked foxtail millet soaking time can we use millet soaked water Unlocking Millets' Nutritional Potential Through Soaking Beyond enhancing taste and textur

How To Make Jowar Roti Without Breaking With Rolling Pin at Home [Sorghum Flour Recipes\Benefits]

Is Jowar good for weight loss? Is Jowar better than wheat? Is Jowar good in summer? Is Jowar good for thyroid? Is Jowar better than Bajra? Can Jowar be eaten everyday? Well, these are some of the most common questions people ask about sorghum flour. Well, sorghum benefits health in more ways than one. First, if you are wondering how to make jowar roti without breaking with a rolling pin at home, let's dig into it and see how to do that easily. The method I follow for making soft, fluffy jowar rotis came up in my mind after my successful trial of ragi jowar chocos at home. I was making sorghum flour chapati earlier as well. Back then, I would struggle to gather the dough and it would often break. But this method has been a revelation of its own. I am happy to share it with you all.  Jowar is heat or cold  Jowar or sorghum has a cold potency so that means you can enjoy it during summers as a coolant. I won't mind enjoying jowar or sorghum flour recipes during winters too because

Making Dahi Without Starter | बिना जामन के दही | How to Make Curd at Home Without Curd

Ever imagines how to make curd without curd (with almonds) बिना जामन के दही ? Well, I am sure such use of almonds as a curd starter is nowhere in your thoughts, right? Perhaps we are not used to thinking on these lines until it happens incidentally and you want to share your experiment with others. I am happy to say that I have experimented with making curd without starter and it gives me creamy and sweet curd. बिना जामन के दही | How to Make Curd at Home Without Curd A Little About my Curd Love Give me a bowl of rich, creamy curd and I do not need anything else on my dining table. Perhaps as a Punjabi, born and brought up into a Punjabi family, I have that special love and fondness for curd. My parents have inculcated in me good eating habits - home food is the best, they would day, preach and practice. This has become ingrained in my thoughts. I detest outside food, and yes, I dub it as market junk. One reason I love all homemade stuff - mommade food is the best. But w