How to Resolve Conflict in a Supervisor's Role
As a manager your influence can not only resolve conflicts between employees, but also prevent them. Clear written policies and well-defined areas of responsibility leave little room for disagreement, but the nature of human personalities dictates that some workplace conflict is unavoidable. As a supervisor, your involvement in minor situations could make the issue seem larger than it is, but when a disagreement begins to affect productivity or hurt office morale, it becomes your responsibility.
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Instructions
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How to Resolve Conflict in a Supervisor's Role
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Inform your company's human resources department of your intention to intervene. Describe how the problem has affected the work environment and clarify any procedural issues related to the disagreement and your involvement in resolving it.
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Bring the employees together to speak openly about the issue, asking each involved party to summarize his position.
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Listen to all sides, separating the facts of the issue from the personalities involved. Take detailed notes.
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Ask questions to verify that you understand each viewpoint. Clarify any timelines involved.
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Restate what you think is the underlying disagreement. Matters covered under policies and procedures are easy to resolve. In other cases, compromise is necessary.
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Ask what each party is willing to concede, and offer your own suggestions if possible. Work together to find a solution that adheres to company policies and satisfies everyone involved.
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Write down what was decided and have all involved employees sign documentation stating their agreement with the resolution.
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Supply copies of the signed documentation to your company's human resources department, your own supervisor and any other applicable parties.
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Analyze the situation from start to finish, determining what you learned that could prevent such issues. Decide which aspects of the conflict resolution were successful and what you would have done differently. Address any potential policy changes that could clarify the matter in the future.
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References
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