Help Teams Resolve Conflict

Depersonalize the conflict. Work with employees to help them understand that this conflict is not a result of a personal disagreement.

Clearly state desired outcomes. Ask employees to focus on finding a solution that will work for everyone involved.

Establish areas of agreement. Before you begin negotiating the areas of conflict, first direct the employees to consider what areas they agree upon. Emphasize the positive aspects that they share.

Practice good listening skills. During conflict, it’s easy for all parties to shut down and refuse to talk or indulge in shouting matches. Ask employees to focus on listening completely, without formulating responses. Listen first and talk second.

Find a common goal. Try to get all the team members focused on a common goal, something they can all agree to work towards. If your team doesn’t agree about the end goal, you’ll struggle with making true progress.

Eliminate criticism. Help you team move forward by asking each member to state their position. Listen carefully without implying any criticism for their views or their actions.

These tips are just a few of the steps you need to help you move your team towards conflict resolution. But conflict management training is an extensive process. With onsite conflict management training, you can learn to diagnose potential conflict situations before they arise and direct teams to achieve goals.

Dealing with conflict isn’t necessarily a skill that comes naturally to most people. That’s why conflict management training is so important – it builds interpersonal skills needed to help teams work together and be productive, while minimizing stress. When managed and handled properly, conflict can be a growth opportunity.

Many companies are downsizing due to the current economic conditions. This means that existing employees are dealing with additional stress and responsibilities. This often leads to conflict in the workplace. With conflict management training, managers support employees and help maintain morale.

While conflict can be difficult for many employees, it doesn’t always have to be a negative process. Conflict can produce innovative ideas, unique approaches to decisions, and increase creative problem solving. Conflict management training allows managers to move discussions forward so that they resolve problems.