6 Tips for Dealing with Conflicts in the Workplace

by  Piera Palazzolo  |  Leadership Development

No matter how productive, efficient, positive or friendly your work environment is, there will always be conflict.

Because of the competitive nature and the necessity to turn a profit, conflict is experienced in every workplace.  Just because conflict exists in your workplace doesn’t mean it can’t be productive or is always negative.

There are times conflict can be efficient and have a positive effect on your business.

It’s not uncommon for two employees are arguing over how to improve a process or what is the best way to pitch a client.  If something is learned from a conflict like this and a mutual understanding is achieved at the end of the conversation, this is an example of how conflict can have a positive impact on business.

While we would all prefer that our business only encounters conflicts that positively impact our work, unfortunately this is not reality.

Take a look at these workplace conflict resolution tips to improve your conflict management:

Be positive

This is perhaps the most essential part of conflict resolution.  If you are looking at all problems and conflicts through a negative lens, you are not going to find an efficient and productive solution.  Look for the best in each side of arguments or parties involved and try to highlight these views or ideas so that they can be the foundation of a solution that all parties can agree upon.

Define the issue at hand

Oftentimes conflicts are brought about by misunderstanding or miscommunication.  This is why it is important to define what the problem is, so that people understand why there is a disagreement.  Doing this will make sure no one is arguing unnecessarily and can save time and energy.

Do your homework

Make sure you understand the other person’s views.  As mentioned above, conflict is often the result of a misunderstanding, so be sure you understand why other people feel the way they feel.


Trust is absolutely vital to having a workplace that functions efficiently and productively. It is also extremely important when it comes to conflict management and resolution.

If people trust their coworkers and their superiors to do what is in the best interest of the company as a whole, then people will be more likely to accept resolutions that they did not initially prefer.

Encourage discussion

In situations where people disagree, ignoring people’s opinions or views will only make things worse.  If someone feels as if they haven’t been taken seriously or given a chance to explain why they hold a belief, it will leave them feeling left out or that their opinion isn’t important.

Stick to the facts

Emotions can flare during a conflict, and remembering that the facts are important is essential.  If you handle a conflict based on the facts, and solve it accordingly, emotions will settle because the right decision will have been made.

Being able to effectively manage conflict is essential to being a good leader and manager.  Don’t let conflicts cause division within your team or company.  Use these tips to quickly and efficiently resolve issues and maintain a positive team spirit.


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Articles By piera-palazzolo
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What People Are Saying

Nenad Pesic  |  01 Aug 2014  |  Reply

Piera, I think your post is right on the money. Especially the part regarding sticking to the facts. When people get emotional they tend to talk about feelings and opinions sometimes without noticing it. Therefore it is vital to go back and stick to the facts.

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