Employees in any company will occasionally disagree with one another. There are times when employees don't gel due to differences in personalities, lifestyles, opinions, or some other reason.
Everyone is affected by a workplace that is discordant. The resulting tension can negatively affect your business's productivity as well as make the office environment uncomfortable.
Iron sharpens iron, which is an old adage that refers to the positive aspects of a situation. Constructive conflict can improve processes, lead to innovation, and enhance creativity if handled properly.
Best Practices
Determine the root cause of conflict
You can ask employees to resolve basic work conflicts themselves or facilitate a conflict-resolution meeting. Conflicts involving sexual harassment, discrimination, or other misconduct require a more serious response.
You need to meet with each person separately and in private before trying to resolve a conflict. Be sure to ask open-ended questions. Investigate the situation if you suspect potential misconduct.
Train employees
Employees can benefit from conflict-resolution training so that they are better prepared to resolve conflicts. Using role-plays and scenarios, emphasis is placed on effective communication and problem-solving skills.
Communicate openly
Employees can report problems in multiple ways when they are unable to resolve them themselves. Keep your door open and encourage employees to approach you with any concerns. In addition, check in regularly with your employees.
Enhance teamwork
There will always be some conflict in the workplace, but you can take steps to help reduce the chances of it becoming a problem. Clarify rules and expectations, clearly define roles, and facilitate team-building activities.
Know when to intervene
If a conflict becomes toxic or potentially damaging to the business, you might want to intervene. An employee's refusal to communicate over a work conflict can negatively affect productivity and other employees.