Conflict Resolution Skills

Conflict at work is inevitable at times, with Forbes’ 18-month research study finding nearly 100% of respondents reported interactions with colleagues were the primary cause of conflict at work. The acquisition of skills for the resolution of conflicts in the workplace is essential for the smooth progression and success of companies.

Resolving conflicts comes down to five basic skills:

What are some conflict resolution skills?

1. Communication

Communicating with employees is essential to identify the source of conflict, which can be built upon to effectively express one’s own perspective. Talking is just one aspect of communication, as listening is just as important. Effective communication is strengthened by active listening strategies, such as asking relevant questions and rephrasing statements appropriately. These techniques increase the chances of effective conflict resolution.

2. Teamwork

Conflict in the workplace can be minimized through use of strong teamwork skills. These skills include finding mutual goals to focus on, designating clear roles and responsibilities amongst team members, and the consideration of other team members’ needs and preferences instead of self-centric focuses.

3. Problem-Solving

One of the most vital conflict resolution skills is problem-solving. It's often used in the management of conflict as individuals are given the opportunity to constructively work differences out by considering various solutions. Once individuals are conditioned to determine solutions to their problems, the possibility of future conflicts is reduced. When constructing solutions, it is essential to consider differing perspectives for a holistic and fair approach to solving the conflict.

4. Stress Management

Stress management is a big culprit in the combat of workplace conflict. Stress is a major cause of workplace issues as situations are made stressful and responsibilities and communication are neglected. There are a plethora of strategies used to cope with stress, such as calmly expressing their feelings and implementing de-stressing practices into the workplace, such as mindfulness. Humor can help in frustration and stress fueled conflict, as well as the support of colleagues in the management of emotions.

5. Emotional Agility

Emotional agility refers to the understanding of one’s own and others’ emotions triggered in the workplace. Emotional awareness allows for empathy, contributing to personal and professional development. Strengthening emotional agility also eradicates the tendency for individuals to avoid sticky situations, rather than successfully resolve the conflict for the development of leadership skills, communication, teamwork and problem solving.

Conflict Resolution Skills Training

Having good relationships with your workmates is extremely important as it impacts your workplace performance. If you have a healthy work environment, you’ll be able to focus on your tasks without worries. While it is ideal to have a conflict-free environment, there are times that you can’t avoid some clashes among employees. This is why conflict resolution skills training is something you should consider so they’ll know what to do when disagreements happen. There are managing conflict training courses that you can easily train your teams with.

If you would like to learn more about how to build the most effective conflict resolution skills course

If you’d like to know more about how SC Training (formerly EdApp)’s mobile learning platform can help your internal training practices, get in touch at enquiries@edapp.com. You can also try SC Training (formerly EdApp)’s Mobile LMS and authoring tool for free by signing up here.

Source
Eagle’s Flight
Forbes