How To Resolve Workplace Conflicts

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Conflicts are a natural part of life - we deal with them with our parents, with our siblings, with our spouses, and even with our own children. But out of all the conflicts we deal with in our lives, the ones most difficult to resolve are often those we have in the workplace. Because of the foundation of relationship we have with those close to us, we are typically more well-equipped to deal with familial conflicts. In the workplace, however, conflicts can become much more volcanic, as we can be dealing with people we hardly knew, or with people we wish we hardly knew! While there is certainly no cure-all that can solve and eradicate all workplace conflicts, there are a number of tips you can pick up that will help you to solve workplace problems, settling them in a calm and effective manner, before they blow up and injure all individuals involved.

"Assigning blame" is one of the biggest pitfalls people fall prey to when trying to deal with all conflicts in general, and with workplace conflicts specifically. If you tell someone, "You don't do any work," they are less likely to react the way you might like for them to react than if you say, "I feel like I am doing all the work here."

When dealing with conflicts, an excellent approach is the "us versus the problem" approach. Instead of pitting two individuals against one another, the "us versus the problem" approach essentially says, "Yes, there is a problem, so let's identify it and work it out together. The "us versus the problem" approach is also a very good way for you to avoid placing blame (and for you to avoid having blame placed on you), because the two of you will be working together against the problem.

Finally, think long and hard about the prudence of involving your superiors in a conflict before you do so. You can introduce bitterness into your relationship with your coworker very quickly when you involve someone else. Furthermore, no one looks good when a conflict is taken to a higher-up, no matter who is proven to be "right" or "wrong."

Conflict resolution is not always easy, but it is often necessary. Learn how to solve workplace conflicts, instead of fighting further and making them worse.