Resolving Employee Conflicts

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.

How Artwork Can Increase Your Productivity

A little art in your workplace can help you come up with new ideas, surpass your goals, and even give you a deeper connection to the company as a whole.

You can also benefit from artwork in your workspace by the following points:

·         Boosts creativity

You can be inspired by art if you surround yourself with it. Rather than forcing creativity with inspirational slogans or clichés, genuinely impressive artworks and photography can naturally encourage it.

Talking points, discussion starters, and innovative thinking are stimulated by inspiring, interesting art.

·         It helps you refocus

The modern work curse is staring at a screen all day. Long-term, looking away and re-focusing reduces fatigue, headaches, and eye strain.

You'll encourage people to look around them and to take a break from their screen when you change what's on the walls or displayed in your office regularly.

·         It's a nice distraction

In addition to providing our minds with a distraction from the task at hand, art can also provide our brains with some leisure time. Daydreamers' brains are extremely active when they are daydreaming, performing a wide range of mental tasks.

We do not slow down at all, even when we think we are switched off. Rather, they replenish mental and physical energy, which, in turn, increases productivity, strengthens attention, solidifies memories, and encourages creativity - all attributes vital to the world of work.

To remain competitive, drive growth, and maintain an engaged and productive workforce, it has never been more important to foster innovation- and fresh-thinking culture.

If you're not considering artwork for your budget next year, perhaps it's time to reconsider. Inspired workspaces help professionals deliver inspiring performances. You will create an environment that is conducive to the generation of ideas and better planning, which in turn will benefit both your staff and your business.

The Right Way to Fire an Employee

You're filled with excitement when you're in a new relationship, making plans for the future together. Breakup is probably the furthest thing from your mind. Similarly, when you hire an employee, you are excited to start working with them; you don't think you might fire them later. However, it may happen.

Despite your best efforts to improve, there's one employee on your team who simply cannot meet expectations - and it's left you scrambling to figure out how to fire them.

I understand your pain. Furnishing someone with a notice is never an enjoyable experience, making it one of the most dreaded tasks for most managers.

When you're in charge, it's your responsibility to ensure that your team maintains high-performance levels. No matter how many attempts you make to correct the employee's behavior, it's time to let them go if they continue to break rules or disregard expectations.

How can you accomplish this without flipped tables, tantrums, or tears?

• Create a transition plan

Be deliberate about the date and time you choose for termination. Although experts disagree on when to fire someone, all acknowledge that having a good business reason for your choice of time and day is paramount.

• Keep company interests in mind no matter what you decide

You may have tolerated less-than-stellar performance for months in hopes it would improve. Having come to the end, plan the transition so that you cause the least amount of damage to the company and your colleagues.

• Ensure that an internal candidate is included in the succession plan

If you want to terminate, wait until you have a replacement in place before terminating. Sending some subtle signals to clients and customers that there will be a staffing change may be in your best interests.

Maintaining Peace With Co-Workers

A workplace is a melting pot of cultures, beliefs, religions, nationalities, and sexual orientations. It is therefore essential that each individual is considerate of one another.

A co-worker can be affected by any offending remarks or misbehavior in many different ways. Consequently, business owners and managers need to make extra efforts to maintain a peaceful workplace.

Disputes and misunderstandings can occur anywhere, even at home and at work. Different perspectives can create tension among team members, and if the leaders fail to resolve disputes, there could be chaos at work. To maintain peace and order in a toxic environment, everyone needs to do their part.

The following are some practical ways to ensure that leaders and employees work together in unity and harmony:

·         Avoid taboo topics

Don't bring up taboo subjects unless you know someone or a group really well. You don't know what people's lives entail or do not entail, or what may upset, offend or anger them. It's not okay to assume, especially at work, that your opinion is unanimous.

·         Calmly express yourself

People who are loud, impolite, and stressed at work may cause you to react and behave accordingly. For example, you may get tense and raise your voice.

·         Don't repeat past mistakes

Be aware if you have seen someone making an offensive comment or if you have done so yourself in the past. However, even if it's an honest mistake, be aware that some people in the office may be offended by your comments.

·         Greet your co-workers

When you say good morning with a smile, congratulate colleagues and bosses on their birthday, and thank them for their good work, you contribute to better relationships and less stress at work.

·         Don't be rude

Treat people politely at all times. The result of being rude or inconsiderate will be a similar response, which will aggravate the situation.

Importance of Employee Appreciation

When do you let your employees know how much you appreciate their efforts? When someone recognizes our efforts, we all feel warm and appreciated. The approval we receive makes us feel good and motivates us to work harder. For this reason, it is important to show that you appreciate your employees.

Oftentimes, we neglect showing employee appreciation when we are busy. Taking the time to show your employees that you appreciate what they do is essential in the workplace, and you need to go out of your way to do so consistently. Without them, what would you do?

Job satisfaction, workplace happiness, and employee morale are directly linked to employee appreciation. It also boosts motivation, increases engagement, fosters loyalty, and increases productivity when you show your employees that you care.

Any business would benefit from these factors. The best part of showing your employees you appreciate their hard work is that it takes little effort, costs very little, and doesn't require much time on your part.

Leading by example in the workplace is a great way to show appreciation. Here are a few examples:

• Productivity is improved: When employees know they are appreciated and recognised for their hard work, they feel valued. They are motivated to keep working hard and improve their performance.

• Higher morale at work: When you show appreciation to an employee, it ripples throughout the company. When employees feel appreciated, they are more likely to show appreciation to their coworkers and other team members.

• Employees are more engaged: The act of showing appreciation at work increases employee engagement and dedication, as well as productivity.

• Loyalty can be built: 66% of employees leave a job because they are not appreciated, according to the Robert Half study.