Home Features Mastermind Videos About Advertise Blog Network Contact
   

Have A Suggestion?
Toronto Salsa Classes / Toronto Salsa Lessons Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
Have A Suggestion?

Featured Ebook


ebook Famous Entrepreneurs - Modern Empire Builders


Featured Ebook

More Evan Carmichael
Have A Suggestion?

Sales Lessons From Starbucks And Dell

Ten Common Conflict Resolution Mistakes – and How to Avoid Them



Ten Common Conflict Resolution Mistakes – and How to Avoid Them
   

One of the most common and frustrating impediments to worker productivity is conflict between employees. In any organization, unresolved conflict can strain relationships, create tension and negativity, fuel office gossip, and dampen morale. I’m not talking here of the kind of open debate that results in enhanced creativity, collaboration, and innovation. Rather, I’m referring to the sort of every day conflict that makes life unpleasant and uncomfortable when it goes unaddressed.

Many of us struggle with finding the right approach to handling disputes and disagreements. We don’t always get it right. Sometimes our efforts at dealing with conflict only make matters worse.

Whether you’re engaged in a heated debate, a stubborn disagreement, or an outright feud, you’ll need to take a strategic approach to resolving the problem. You’ll be most effective if you avoid making these common mistakes.

In other words, here’s what NOT to do:

1. Make assumptions - about the situation, the other person’s perceptions, motivations, or reactions. You’ll get a much clearer and more accurate picture by asking the other person directly.

2. Take it personally - it rarely is!

3. Look for blame. Instead, try to identify cause.

4. Avoid the problem. It’ll only get worse, breed resentment, and resurface at a later date. You’ve simply got to deal directly with the issue at hand.

5. Attack the other person’s character. That’s just playing dirty. It will not help you work things out and it will almost certainly have a lasting, negative impact.

6. Gossip – about the problem or about the other person involved. It’s unprofessional and will only make matters worse.

7. Bring it up in public. This is a private matter to be resolved between you and the other party.

8. Bring it up when there’s not enough time to address it. Instead, leave adequate time for a thorough discussion - or introduce the issue and schedule a time to resume talks in the immediate future.

9. Bring it up when you’re angry, stressed, or filling ill. That’s a disservice to you and the other person involved. Wait until you’re calm and feeling up to snuff.

10. Address the situation via email. Email leaves far too much room for misinterpretation. While we’re on the subject, don’t copy others on a personal matter. This will almost certainly make the other party feel defensive, angry, or humiliated. It won’t, however, help resolve the problem.



Ten Common Conflict Resolution Mistakes – and How to Avoid Them - To learn more about this author, visit Liz Bywater's Website.

Like this article? Share it with your friends
[Get Copyright Permissions] E-Mail | Print | More  


Related Articles Related Articles
The Conflict Transformation of a Leader
  How well do you handle conflict? Do you avoid it? Do you act immediately? Do you let it resolve itself? Is conflict destructive? Let's read further to determine the answers to these questions.
6.6 Strengthening of institutions: Economic Report on Africa 2007
  a prerequisite for positive diversification outcomes
Human Resources Management
  One of the most challenging aspects of human resources management for any small business owner is dealing with workplace conflict. You might think that because your company is precisely a small one, and potentially ...
Conflict Resolution
  Most conflict is not right or wrong, it just is. It is a natural reaction when we or others feel challenged, pressured or threatened. Conflict is indeed needed to help individuals and organization grow, develop and ...
Ten Common Conflict Resolution Mistakes – and How to Avoid Them
  Many of us struggle with finding the right approach to handling disputes and disagreements. We don’t always get it right. Sometimes our efforts at dealing with conflict only make matters worse. Whether you’re engage...

Related Forum Posts Related Forum Posts
Re: 365 Foolish Mistakes Smart Managers Make Re: 365 Foolish Mistakes Smart Managers Make
Mensch Mensch
Book Review: Don't Make Me Think Book Review: Don't Make Me Think
365 Foolish Mistakes Smart Managers Make 365 Foolish Mistakes Smart Managers Make
Bronze Medal Winner - Meant a Medal Bronze Medal Winner - Meant a Medal
Book Awards Book Awards
5 Points 5 Points
Why is a patent important? Why is a patent important?

 
About the Author


Liz Bywater
(Visit Liz's Website)
Liz Bywater, PhD, is president of Bywater Consulting Group, LLC, an organizational consulting firm in the Philadelphia area. Dr. Bywater helps her clients dramatically improve individual, group, and organizational performance... resulting in enhanced job satisfaction, maximized productivity, and heightened profitability for the organization. Dr. Bywater is a specialist in human behavior and behavioral change. She brings her sophisticated understanding of people, relationships, and communication to the corporate environment to help her clients effect meaningful and lasting improvements in job effectiveness. Dr. Bywater writes and speaks on a variety of workplace topics, including the power of collaboration, effective workplace communication, and outstanding leadership. She has been published and quoted in such publications as the NY Times and the International Herald Tribune. Dr. Bywater earned her PhD at the Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies. She earned her AB at Cornell University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Cum Laude with Distinction.
Have A Suggestion?

View Author's Blog
Become An Author

View Author's Video
Become An Author

Free Downloads


Liz Bywater's

Complete
List Of
Small-Business-Consulting
Articles

First Name
Last Name
Email
 
If you enjoyed this article, get Liz Bywater's Complete List of Small-Business-Consulting Articles For FREE!
Become An Author