Develop Better Conflict Management Skills

Any business comprised of individuals working together – each with their own thoughts, personalities and ideas on how things should be done – will inevitably feel some kind of friction at some point. When this occurs, it’s essential that leaders have the conflict management skills to diffuse the situation quickly and effectively, and ensure that there is no continued negativity that could affect future teamwork. The price of getting this wrong is high – distracted executives, lost opportunities, wasted management time and the risk of poor results. However there are skills and practices you can develop to help in these situations, and to assist your leaders to become better at conflict management.

• Ensure each job role is clearly defined and does not overlap unless stipulated. Many conflicts are a result of indistinct role or task boundaries, and giving everyone a clear set of instructions can avoid a lot of issues. If overlap needs to occur, set guidelines for this as well.
• Build relationships with employees that foster communication. Take an interest in their accomplishments and challenges, and get to know who they are as a person. If you understand their personality or emotional tendencies, you’re better equipped to get to the root of a conflict.
• Keep your finger on the pulse and resolve conflicts before they grow unmanageable. Interpersonal conflicts have a way of growing when they aren’t voiced, and take the form of passive-aggression and resentment. Keep fields of communication open, look for any issues that seem to be forming, and nip potential problems in the bud.

Improving Conflict Management Skills in Your Organisation

These are general tips that can improve conflict management practices, but in reality it is a very complex skill to master, and can depend on the specific dynamics of your team. You need to examine your own team, leaders and organisation honestly to understand where conflict is coming from and how your people interact with each other. Being able to identify the problem is only one aspect – knowing how to deal with the situation in a way that helps rather than harms is crucial. To truly gain control over conflict management, a leadership team development service can work with you to identify problems in your workplace, devise strategies to help resolve them and enable your teams to work constructively and productively together.

Contact us to find out how Stepshift can assist your business in dealing with conflict.

Related articles from our Leadership Blog:

• The Challenge Of Infighting: Assisting People To Get Beyond Their Differences
• When Leadership Teams Are Not Teams
• Engage and Motivate: Getting the Best from Others
• Beyond Conflict Resolution: Resolving Conflict Assists Staff Morale and Performance

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