Workplace conflict is bound to happen at some point. Even when employees work toward a common goal, they may disagree on how to attain it. As a manager, handling conflict effectively can be the difference between a happy, productive team and an environment where individuals are unengaged and at odds with their colleagues.
To encourage harmony and productivity, these are six must-have conflict management skills whenever problems arise within your department.
1. Clear Communication
Conflict resolution begins with solid communication. Managers need to be able to express themselves clearly to avoid misunderstandings. To accomplish this, use clear language and be direct about expectations. Display a willingness to address problems head-on.
Effective communication is also about active listening, which involves:
- Giving full attention to the employee you’re speaking with
- Listening and watching for clues, both verbal and non-verbal
- Resisting the temptation to interrupt
- Asking follow-up questions to clarify any misunderstanding
Engaging in active listening creates a two-way conversation that builds trust and promotes more fruitful conflict resolution.
2. Managing Stress in a Healthy Way
Conflict causes some level of stress for all parties. That makes it especially important for managers to manage their stress. When you keep your composure and show a sense of calm, this will be a benchmark for other team members’ responses.
When stress levels trigger uncomfortable responses, take a brief pause and practice common stress-reduction techniques, such as:
- Mindfulness
- Controlled breathing
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Visualizing a “safe” or peaceful and calming scene
- Conducting a “grounding” routine to anchor you in the moment
Developing stress management skills in conflict resolution can keep your feelings from worsening matters. They can also guide you toward better decision-making that’s unclouded by emotions.
High stress levels can cause a 50% decrease in productivity and an increase in absenteeism, according to the Mayo Clinic. Stress-reduction methods should become routine for managers.
| Tip: To set a good example for your team, briefly pause to practice deep breathing before resolving a conflict. This should help you stay composed and make more thoughtful decisions. |
3. Looking at Things From a Problem-Solving View
Take on a problem-solving mindset the minute conflict arises. Focus on your solution rather than the stress of the conflict. This involves figuring out the underlying reasons behind the conflict and helping both sides arrive at a win-win situation.
Effective managers show leadership by prioritizing a fair endgame, ensuring disagreements don’t result in all-encompassing bitterness. Problem-solving is one of the most important conflict management skills because it encourages leaders and their employees to turn disputes into learning opportunities.
| Tip: Problem-solving, among other skills, can come with experience and coaching. Consider introducing a manager coaching program at your organization to sharpen conflict management and problem-solving skills. |
4. Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the ability to identify, understand, and regulate your emotions. Having a high EQ also means you can sympathize with and react to the emotions of others.
In particular, you are able to:
- Recognize emotional cues
- Be mindful of your emotional reactions
- Use that awareness to communicate effectively and make better decisions
People with a high EQ are more capable of navigating tense social dynamics, empathizing, and minimizing conflict. Managers with a high EQ respond sensitively to others, listen to their concerns, and mediate in a way that validates each party’s feelings without sacrificing objectivity.
| Tip: To track your emotional patterns in professional or personal situations, keep a journal as a daily reflection exercise. By identifying, controlling, and empathizing with others’ feelings, you can increase your EQ. Make use of these abilities to resolve disputes amicably, actively listen, and objectively validate individuals’ concerns. |
5. The Ability to Embrace Different Perspectives
One of the most powerful conflict management skills you can develop as a manager is the ability to understand your team’s diverse viewpoints.
Comprehending different perspectives helps you:
- Develop empathy
- Improve decision-making
- Inspire a healthy attitude toward teamwork
- Remove barriers
- Lessen the chance of experiencing more complicated conflicts down the road
Managers must recognize and champion diversity in thinking. Failing in this area can lead to conflicts between people with different opinions. Managers can reframe conflicts as learning opportunities simply by acknowledging that every team member has a valuable, unique perspective.
You should promote tolerance and reaffirm that every team member gets heard. Doing so repairs the problem at hand. However, its benefits extend far beyond that. Encouraging a range of perspectives among your team also fosters creativity, promotes innovative problem-solving, and enhances overall team cohesion.
6. Teamwork
The surest way to handle conflict — or even avoid it — is by promoting a culture of cooperation and acceptance. In such a culture, worker conflicts become less about personal grievances and more about how to accomplish team objectives.
It’s always important to recognize individual efforts. However, having a teamwork mindset cultivates the belief that everyone’s working together toward a shared goal rather than seeking individual acclaim.
Encourage teamwork by focusing on cooperation, mutual respect among team members, and individual accomplishments that help you progress further toward your goal. This allows you to significantly reduce the odds of future conflicts.
| Tip: Consider incorporating team-building activities into the mix, or find ways to bring your team together (even if for a short in-person or virtual gathering/meeting) to increase communication and camaraderie. |
How to Improve Conflict Management Skills
A strong ability to handle conflicts is a prerequisite for any successful leader. Interactive, virtual manager coaching and training programs like those at Sayge provide specific tactics and useful activities to improve problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and communication skills.
By undergoing this kind of training, managers can change the way they handle conflict and promote a more peaceful and effective workplace. Through individualized coaching and training, Sayge coaching provides managers with the tools they need to effectively manage and resolve conflict.
