Did you overcome the trauma of the Pandemic yet? No, you aren’t alone! The entire world is trying and struggling to come to terms with this virus that wreaked havoc across the globe. But during the pandemic days, the organizations discovered a whole new aspect of working, i.e. remote work. No doubt, it was a spectacular concept where companies enjoyed more productivity as compared to regular work, but it had its fair share of demerits too which the following data is going to demonstrate.

According to a recent survey by myperfectresume on remote employees, 80% of participants encountered conflict when working remotely. Another research by CPP Global Human Capital Report that looked at all kinds of organizations revealed that 85% of employees at all levels had some experience with workplace conflict.

Therefore, most of us have experienced our fair share of office turbulence. Even while conflict at work is unavoidable, we may learn to resolve our conflicts more effectively. Even in the face of challenging conditions, how you and your team address conflict may have a huge impact on your business.

You can rest assured as this article discusses workplace disputes in detail, including what they are, how to recognize them, and how to contribute to their resolution.

What Is Workplace Conflict?

When there is discord among employees as a result of divergent interests, personalities, opinions, or ideologies, workplace conflict results. Conflict in the workplace is inevitable and is only to be expected when people from various experiences and viewpoints work together. A variety of behaviors, such as a lack of collaboration, verbal abuse, harassment, rage, subpar or delayed work, project failure, and others, can be used to convey conflict.

Conflict at work is not something you need to worry about at your company. It's normal and, when handled properly, may even surprisingly be beneficial for your organization. Also, good Leadership Training sometimes proves to be instrumental to resolve those conflicts or skillfully leveraging them for good. To assist you in handling conflicts in your business, let's examine some details about workplace conflicts.

Some Common Types Of Workplace Conflicts

There are several sorts of conflicts at work; they are not all the same. Here are some of the most typical varieties to be on the lookout for:

1. Disputes Based On Interdependent Tasks

Consider the procedures that keep your business solvent. Within interconnected workstreams, several cross-functional processes frequently occur. For instance, once HR notifies your IT department of the new recruit's start date, your IT department may be in charge of creating accounts and technologies for them. What happens, though, if HR neglects to inform IT about a new recruit, and he/she shows up on their first day of work without being set up and prepared to work? Particularly amongst departments, these interdependencies may be irritating and explosive.

2. Conflicting Leadership Philosophies

Conflicts resulting from variations in leadership styles can be analogous to those based on style. While some leaders are quick and to the point, others could come off as friendlier and more open. No matter your style of leadership, it's critical to comprehend it so you can explain to your team how to collaborate with you. Get training on Transformational Leadership for your team to get the mindset of your team aligned.

3. Conflicts Of Personality

Some of the most frequent kinds of workplace conflict are disagreements brought on by various personality types. We all have our unique personalities and won't get along with everyone we encounter. Therefore it's tough to escape these disagreements. Personality-based disagreements can be difficult and unpleasant, but it's helpful to understand how to collaborate with people who have different viewpoints and methods than you do.

Identifying Signs Of Workplace Conflicts

The greatest method to prevent stress and arguments at work before they harm your business is to recognize early indicators of conflict. The best part is that you may be more proactive with your conflict resolution strategies by being aware of the warning indicators. Here are some ways to recognize conflict at work:

• Keep A Check On Productivity Declines.

The conflict has a negative impact on workplace productivity. Productivity declines if workers can't get along and collaborate well, which shouldn't come as a surprise. Your staff members may be less motivated and concentrated on their tasks if they are dissatisfied at work, which might delay project delivery and completion.

• Pay attention to employee turnover and absence rates.

You should look into the situation if there is an unexpectedly high staff turnover rate or if you are observing workers missing work or reporting ill. Employees may try to deal with the issue by avoiding the workplace, especially if they aren't getting any further support for doing so.

• Keep An Ear Out For Specific Concerns From Your Workers.

Pay close attention to what your staff members are saying out loud. Some unsatisfied workers might not be shy in expressing their opinions. Listen to them to see if you can identify any more important disputes that you can assist with resolving. Listen and try not to dismiss concerns as trivial grievances.

It’s crucial to note that no two disagreements are the same when it comes to handling a workplace conflict. Depending on the personnel engaged and the severity of the disagreement, the warning indicators may change. Sometimes investing in Leadership Training Programs can make your employees happy and all conflicts get dissolved spontaneously. So getting good training programs can be a smart move for your organization.

Some Tips To Address Conflicts At the Workplace

1. Get Into The Bottom Of The Dispute

The first step in handling employee conflict that you are not personally engaged in is to identify the underlying reason.

To obtain a clear idea of how each party feels and the nature of the argument, let each party tell their part of the story to you individually. Make sure to get as much information as you can from both sides and clarify everything with questions. Prevent picking sides and listen to all points of view without any partiality. You can assist both parties in having a fruitful and constructive discussion about their problems as an unbiased mediator.

2. Decide On A Time And Place To Meet And Address The Dispute

Conflicts must be discussed and resolved. Try to arrange a time to meet and discuss, either virtually or in person, as trying to resolve conflicts through online conversation might result in misunderstandings and new conflicts.

3. Decide On And Strie Towards Solutions That Are Acceptable To Both Sides

You should assist the parties in identifying solutions and the next steps everyone can agree on once you've heard both sides out and given them a chance to meet and address the dispute individually.

To keep everyone aligned and working towards a common objective, you must find a solution that is accepted by all parties. Everyone involved should be aware of what is required of them and the concrete measures they must take to advance the situation towards settlement.

Endnote

It is true that conflicts are unavoidable, but what matters is how you handle them. If they are not handled properly, a conflict can be very damaging to the organization staying as well as individual careers. However, if handled well, it can promote positive change and also put you in good stead for future promotions and opportunities.