Just because you work together does not always mean you will get along with your co-workers. When ideas and finances are on the line, conflict can and will occur. Conflict can lead to lost work time and a reduced commitment to and enjoyment of your job, according to CNN.com. For these reasons, resolving conflict is necessary to experience a more enjoyable working environment and to enhance your work performance.
Step 1
Step away from the conflict after it first occurs and resist the urge to make personal attacks or make statements you will later regret. Going to your office does not mean you are backing down. Instead, it means you are taking time to contemplate the issue--and to cool off. At this time, consider whether this is really a battle worth fighting, or just a minor blip due to stress or a looming deadline, advises CNN.com.
Step 2
Schedule a time where you and the person who are in conflict--or the conflicting parties, if you are the manager--can speak more calmly. Select a neutral location. A place to grab a coffee is better than an office conference room, where discussions could be heard by other co-workers.
Step 3
Give each party an opportunity to discuss his position. Use "I" statements that describe how you feel--not "you" statements that accuse the other party. Examples include "I am concerned that if we take the project in that direction, the clients won't respond well." All Business recommends giving each party a time limit--such as five minutes--to share his position.
Step 4
Listen thoughtfully. In order for conflict resolution to work, each party must feel as if she has been heard. Refrain from interrupting, according to CNN.com.
Step 5
Re-frame the other party's position after he speaks. Repeating your understanding of his position ensures that you are truly hearing what he is saying. If he made the statement in step three, you would re-frame to say "I understand that you are concerned with the status of the project if we moved forward with my idea."
Step 6
Discuss what must be done in order to accomplish each other's goals and explore areas where compromise is possible and both parties could actually get what they want. Discussing each person's ultimate goal may help to bring these thoughts together, as two parties often have different viewpoints about the path it takes to achieve the same goal.
Step 7
Achieve an agreeable resolution. This is one in which both parties can come out of the conflict by achieving some form of reconciliation on the disagreement. Sometimes this means "agreeing to disagree." Whatever the solution, it is important that the argument has a conclusion. Only then can both parties move forward.
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