Conflict in an organization is frustrating and uncomfortable. Everyone in the world needs some peace, comfort, and relaxation in an environment to work productively and effectively. An employee can resolve the issue internally if it is not a big issue.
But when it comes to an issue that is tough to handle, then management has to come and resolve the problem immediately.
For example, a business owner has hired a management team that has to look after these matters on their end. It was found that the team is a mess, and leaders were frustrated as well; that’s why employees decided to quit the firm. Now, the result is affecting not only the employee’s dedication but also a loss of a firm in terms of resources and work.
Let’s check how the resolve the problem and how the team becomes more cohesive.
Things To Know Before Choosing a Conflict Management Style
It is necessary to know a few things before choosing a management style. Here you will find some important points that you need to keep in mind. If you have the best content ideas, then you are able to handle such things easily.
1. Value Of A Person Or Issue In Front Of You
First of all, clear yourself that who valued you the most, a person, or an issue. And then be clear with your statement or point. Listen to the points of both the parties between whom the conflict has happened. And be fair to the solution. Make sure you understand the problem first, and the point of view that people are discussing. If you are capable of it, then go ahead.
2. Your Time And Energy That You Need
Are you ready to spend time on this discussion? The most important question that you should ask yourself.
Next, you should know that whether I am able to handle a conflict between employees or not.
If you are not that energetic or cannot bear the problem, then you have to stop involving in the issue immediately. The typical manager spends 25-40% of their time dealing with workplace conflicts, and if you are one of them, then you need to go through the entire situation properly.
3. Do you Understand Consequences
Ask yourself; are you able to understand the consequences? Before involving in any issue, you need to understand the consequences of the particular conflict.
Firstly, you have to be strong enough to understand the issues. You must need calmness in your decision, patience, and the ability to hear the problem. If you have these skills, then you will be able to tackle such issues.
Conflict Management Styles
Here are five top conflict management styles that every new and old manager should look at while resolving any issue in an office environment. These points will surely help you in dealing with such issues, whether in an organization or any other area.
a) Avoiding
Firstly, the avoiding style that is completely perfect for resolving a conflict. What you can do is, listen to the conflict and avoid answering the issue. Simply, you can continuously postpone or excuse the problem whenever it comes up. This style will provide you some time to think of the problem and find out some strong solution for the team.
Pros: It will give time to calm down the people who are suffering from such conflicts. Time and space provided by you will help them to resolve problems directly.
Cons: Some time using this technique in the wrong situation may worsen the conflict. Employees increase grudges in their heart for the management if they are avoiding the issue and never looking into the matter.
b) Accommodating
Accommodating style can be only used when you have no interest in the conflict that has happened. It means you are accepting each and everything that has been done. If you want to just focus on your marketing tactics without getting interrupted, then just handover such issues happening in an organization to a team, and let them accommodate accordingly.
Pros: Problems can be handled quickly without any issue. Managers can allow employees to speak and put their point of view. Without a lot of effort, it can be done even simpler.
Cons: Employees will think that management is weak as they are accommodating too often. They will get the point against managers that is something unavoidable.
c) Collaborating
One of the great styles of conflict management is to collaborate with the team. Professionals, authors and academic writing service experts consider collaborating is the best tactic for exchange of information with mutual benefits. If you arrange a meeting where every person can speak to their point, then it will be easy to get an immediate solution.
Working together is always effective for a business like to run a website we work on customer support, SEO, marketing, and all. Similarly, to run an organization effectively, it is a must to resolve conflict very well.
Pros: Everyone leaves happy and clear their mind on the conflict that has occurred. You will get an immediate solution that will be perfect for you and your firm.
Cons: The only con of this style is that it will take a lot of time in discussion. You may get a delay in your work and may lose productivity.
d) Competing
There are many firms who are applying the competing style that is nowadays really common. Basically, you do not listen to other’s perspectives, just put your point and force everyone to follow it. This style is only for your rights and morals that can be used to end a long term conflict.
Pros: Managers in this style shows how strong they are to keep their point on the top. They resolve the conflict without any discussion or disagreements.
Cons: It leaves a negative impact on management. Productive employees will not speak in any other cases if they found to be discussed.
e) Compromising
Compromising is the last and final style that can use in favor of both parties. You both lay down and accept each other’s error or mistake to overcome the problem and stay without any doubt. This can be used if no one is understanding and doesn’t want to accept the issue.
Pros: Conflict can be resolved quickly, and everyone will leave on a good note. It will be good to resolve the issue at that time so that everyone can focus on the goal without getting interrupted.
Cons: No one will be completely happy with the decision. Some trigger points will still disturb their mind that may reflect in their work. Employees will not discuss the issue again with the manager, and this is negative for the company’s growth.
Personality Types To Look For
Before choosing a conflict management style to resolve an issue, you should analyze your personality type. It will help you in choosing the correct conflict management style for resolving the issue.
1. Thinking Power Vs Feelings In Your Heart
Do not compare your thinking power with your feelings. If you get emotional while taking a decision, then it will be difficult for both; you and the opposite party. Listen to your heart, but make sure you are also clear with your thoughts.
If you think that you can take immediate action by choosing any of the above-discussed styles, and you are very clear on it, then stop wasting time, but do the things you think is right for the business. If you can act emotional, then give an emotional touch to your decision by satisfying your employees so that you will feel more comfortable while giving a decision.
2. Judging Things Vs. Observing The Points
Do not directly judge the person or his acts, but you can observe first to settle the things. If you will not observe before taking a decision, then it might be a wrong decision for everyone in the organization. Always keep the difference between judging and observing.
For instance, if you are running your business and working on a website traffic, so first you observe how your site is working and how much traffic is gaining. After that, you decide to work on SEO tools for further collaboration. So, observing is always a great thing to do before coming up with any solution.
Conclusion
Whether you are new in the firm and handling the management for the first time, or you are experienced, the above-discussed points will always be effective for you. From these 5 styles, you can select any according to the situation that will help you to work on it.
Make sure you are aware of your duties and responsibilities as a manager. This will also give you the motivation to work for the firm through your skills and tactics. Read it thoroughly and be a part of a firm by showing your fantastic quality as a manager.
Article and permission to publish here provided by Liza Brooke. Originally written for Supply Chain Game Changer and published on February 28, 2024.
Photos provided by Liza Brooke.