Conflict is a natural part of life, even in the workplace. However, unresolved conflict can cause major issues amongst your team when it is ignored or not dealt with in a productive and professional manner. If your organization is looking for new tools to help with conflict resolution in the workplace, then keep reading for some helpful tips from the team at Prescott HR!

What is Conflict Resolution?

Conflict is inevitable when you manage a team of people. Even as professionals, we all bring to the table an array of different ideas, values, and belief systems that can sometimes lead to conflict. That’s where healthy conflict resolution can make dealing with workplace disagreements easier to manage. Conflict resolution in the workplace includes addressing disagreements or tensions that arise between different members of your team. As you approach conflict resolution with your team, it’s important to keep in mind that the end goal is to find a constructive solution to help your team members work through the conflict. Doing so will encourage that your work environment remains productive and positive, even in the face of conflict.

Best Practices for Conflict Resolution

Now that you understand the importance of healthy conflict resolution in the workplace, here are several best practices that we recommend:

• Foster an environment of open communication: Healthy communication is the key to life, both personally and professionally. Your organization must prioritize transparent communication to help avoid unnecessary conflict. When your team members feel comfortable expressing their thoughts or opinions, they will be less likely to hold feelings in, which can turn into resentment and eventually lead to conflict. Open communication can also help prevent misunderstandings between team members.

• Set guidelines: It’s important to establish what is and is not acceptable behavior in your office so that issues do not quickly escalate to full-blown conflict.
  
• Hear both sides: If a conflict does arise, it’s important to hear both sides of the story from each party involved. This can help your organization get to the bottom of what caused the conflict in the first place, which will help prevent future conflicts from arising.

• Practice empathy: When practicing conflict resolution, it’s important to practice empathy by listening attentively to all parties involved. This will help communicate to your team that you value their feelings and want to help find a resolution that works for everyone.

• Circle back: After a conflict is resolved, it’s equally important to follow up with all parties once the dust settles. Emotions can run high during a conflict, so allowing time for each person to breathe and collect themselves is important for putting an issue to rest. Check in with all parties several days after the conflict to ensure that all solutions are being implemented fairly and that both parties feel satisfied with the end result.

Work with Prescott HR

Does your organization need help with conflict resolution? We are here to help! Prescott HR offers a wide range of services that can help your organization evaluate your current policies and incorporate new ones, as needed. Our unintimated HR practices allow us to be focused and effective, providing your business with precisely what you need. Give us a call today at 443-351-8818 or contact us online.