How to Resolve Conflicts at Work

Friction in the workplace can be stressful and counterproductive for everyone involved. Learn to approach the person with whom you are struggling and resolve the situation. Follow these few steps to alleviate awkwardness in the workplace.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Decide whether you want to confront the person who is bothering you. It is usually better to air grievances in the open than to let them fester.

2. Speak to the other person calmly, politely and rationally. Focus on the situation and facts, avoiding gossip and personal attacks.

3. Be careful not to express hostility in your posture, facial expression or tone. Be assertive without being aggressive.

4. Listen to the other person carefully: What is she trying to say? Be sure you understand her position.

5. Express interest in what the other person is saying. You can acknowledge her ideas without necessarily agreeing or submitting. Saying, "I understand that you feel this way. Here's how I feel..." acknowledges both positions.

6. Communicate clearly what you want, offering positive suggestions and recommendations. Be willing to be flexible.

7. Speak to your supervisor if a problem with a difficult co-worker seriously threatens your work, but avoid whining.

Tips & Warnings

• Deal with problematic personalities by trying to understand what motivates their behavior, then tailoring your actions to work with that personality type. Once you grasp why people behave as they do, you will be able to interact with them more effectively.
• For example, be firm with bullies at work ' don't allow them to pressure you into doing anything unwanted. Be forceful in your opinions, but act with a bit of caution.
• Around complainers, avoid acting too sympathetic if you feel their complaints are ill-founded; instead, ask what sorts of actions they plan to take to change the situation. Squarely ask them what they want.

Who Can Help:

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[breakinto]

on 4/13/2009 Focus on solutions rather than the problem.

[leroo82]

on 1/16/2009 what's with the 'she' and 'her'? is it naturally assumed that conflict in the workplace must involve caddy, talkative, trouble-making WOMEN? generalizations aside, i sought out this site to look for a solution to the conflict i'm having with a MALE co-worker. i'll keep looking.

[DeysideAB]

on 5/29/2007 Thanks for the article

[Payne]

on 5/18/2007 Remember you want all conflicts to be FUNCTIONAL no matter the situation. When the conflict is considered functional everyone will benefit

on 11/22/2005 My daughter had the perfect line when I was stressing over a conflict with someone. There was really no way out of the conflict but I was allowing it to dominate my thoughts and my mood. She told me I was allowing the person to "live rent free in my mind". Since I couldn't do anything about the person's attitude, I decided to terminate their rent-free status.