RESOLVING CONFLICT

Shared from:

Conflict Management Styles

April 12, 2012 by Dr. Jon Warner

Resolving Conflict in the Workplace: Conflict Negotiation Strategies

April 11, 2012 by Dr. Jon Warner

Using Empathy to Reach a Common Understanding

April 10, 2012 by Dr. Jon Warner

Resolving Conflict Situations by Managing Emotions in the Workplace

April 8, 2012 by Dr. Jon Warner

http://blog.readytomanage.com/category/conflict-resolution/

Manager needs to adopt a series of approaches or use several “conflict management styles” in order to get an acceptable outcome or result. The three-step approach or intervention strategy may therefore work well in many conflict situations that have reached “boiling point”:

• a commanding or “usurping style”
• a much softer voiced calming or “suppressing style”
• a bargaining or “exchanging style”

 

Any kind of attempt to negotiate your way out of a conflict situation always involves having a conversation with one or more individuals and ensuring that you win their interest in what you have to say.  Always bear in mind the ‘what’s in it for me’ or “WIIFM” factor that is often uppermost in people’s mind and try to view the conflict negotiation.  A conflict negotiation is a two-way process.  It’s to arrive at a mutual satisfactory outcome for all concerned if at all possible.

It is difficult to have a sensible conversation when an individual is plainly irritated or frustrated and not in a mood.  Empathy is crucial to conflict resolution.  Empathy means stepping into the other party’s shoes and seeing their view of the conflict situation through their eyes.  Showing empathy simply entails that the issue is being acknowledge.

 

There are a number of elements in every workplace conflict.  Sometimes feelings need to be expressed.  Collaborative problem solving needs to be conducted in a rational and objective manner.  One positive technique for managing emotions in a workplace conflict is to reflect back the feelings that have been expressed by the other party.  While emotions need to be aired, they shouldn’t be allowed to get out of hand and adversely affect the communication process.