Conflict in the workplace is defined as an employee or employer who has different views and opinions than other people in the office. This will generate discomfort among the people who are at work and the emotional tension will be reflected in the environment and in the feelings of the people involved. Conflict in the workplace can have a profound effect on morale, productivity and, in the worst case, lead to violent crime.

Next we are going to tell you how to resolve conflicts in the workplace, because in this way if it happens to you, you can achieve harmony and that it does not affect you more than necessary. If you are good at your job on an emotional level, your productivity will not suffer.

Identify the problem

Identifying conflict in the workplace is crucial to prevent it from escalating to the point of not being repaired. Some warning signs that a conflict is forming is that employees are demonstrating unhealthy competition. Examples of this could be fighting over information or an employee hiding pertinent research from other team members.

Other issues that lead to conflict in the workplace are undefined job descriptions and roles. This causes employees to step on their feet because they are doing jobs that are not designated for them. Employees who don’t understand the business objective or who develop different goals can also create tension and resentment in the office.

Prevent and resolve conflicts at work

Conflict will always exist in a workplace, and this is not always a bad thing. Some conflicts are healthy for a business to prosper. It inspires employees and provides them with a healthy dose of motivation to succeed. To prevent and resolve conflict in the workplace, you need to go to the source and discuss the conflict, and develop an understanding of how the other person feels and why they feel that way. 

This will also provide you with insight for the future on how this person reacts to certain situations and how you can best deal with it.  Once the conflict is resolved through words and calm, it will give you a better self-awareness and help you re-evaluate your roles and goals that will motivate you in the future. 

Tips to follow

When you have a conversation with your coworkers to resolve the conflict, there are certain tips that you should follow. You’ll first need to make sure everyone involved understands what the problem really is. Consciousness is critical to resolving any conflict.

Allow everyone involved to speak and express their opinions on the issue at hand. When the people involved remain silent, there is no hope for reconciliation. Encourage everyone to express what they feel and what would be the right way for them to approach the problem. Everyone’s goal may not be that different after all, although the ideal is to achieve a result in which everyone benefits in some way. Finally, you will have to talk about what is realistic and what is not, and talk about ways of commitment so that everyone feels that they are being listened to and considered.

With these tips you can solve the problems that come out in the office, but always with respect and empathy towards others and with assertiveness in your emotional expressions and about what you want to achieve. The work environment is essential for productivity to exist and for employees to feel comfortable throughout their working day. Therefore, if there is an interpersonal conflict in the workplace, it is necessary to solve it as soon as possible for the good of all.