How you, as a manager and leader can actively manage conflict in your workplace using some essential but basic skills. Conflict that is ignored is damaging.
Conflict in the workplace is inevitable and how it is handled can have significant impact on leadership effectiveness, team cohesion, productivity, morale and retention. Effective conflict management skills are indispensable for leaders and managers who need to navigate workplace disputes, engender a positive, safe environment, and encourage strong communication.
We offer in-depth training in conflict management techniques tailored to experienced professionals, newly promoted managers and supervisors, and HR staff. We deliver impactful learning experiences that promote lasting growth in your conflict management skills.
Our conflict management courses cover the causes of conflict, the nature of inter personal conflict, our natural approach to conflict, what most often causes conflict in the workplace and how to identify it and introduces key skills such as active listening, effective communication, and facilitative chats. By honing your conflict management skills, you can successfully traverse workplace disputes, and encourage open dialogue within your team. This will enhance collaboration and make everyone feel heard. We also introduce the concept of Mediation for those occasions when it is more appropriate to engage in that process.
Active/Reflective Listening: The keystone of Effective Conflict Management
A key feature of conflict management is active listening, which is a difficult skill to master. It involves concentrated, focused listening with empathy and reflecting back what has been said. By sharpening your active listening skills, you can more easily identify and understand deeper causes of the conflict, identify potential solutions. By demonstrating that you have really listened and not just heard what has been said you will gain respect and demonstrate respect and support towards those involved.
Effective Communication: Conveying Your Perspective with Clarity and Empathy
The ability to communicate your thoughts and feelings with clarity and empathy is vital for successful conflict management. Effective communication allows you to express your perspective without escalating the conflict, fostering mutual understanding and facilitating problem-solving.
Facilitative guidance: Helping achieve Win-Win Outcomes for lasting resolution.
As a manager dealing with Conflict management often involves a ‘difficult conversation' or mediation. Managers as leaders must find a way to reach outcomes that satisfy all parties involved, a win/win scenario. Mastering these skills is key for effective conflict resolution and ensuring that workplace disputes are resolved in a sustainable and satisfactory manner. Should this not prove possible then an understanding of Mediation and what it entails is also essential.
Effective Conflict Management develops Team Cohesion and Productivity
Effective conflict management is an essential skill for leaders. It has a direct impact team cohesion, overall productivity, and the quality of the work environment. By mastering active/reflective listening, effective communication, the delivery of difficult conversations, and developing and maintaining a positive work environment, you can successfully handle workplace disputes. For those disputes where an external mediator is the preferred option then an understanding of what this entails is also key.
