by Anishametra Saravanan
It’s 6p.m. and you’re adding a few finishing touches to a final report due tomorrow when a not-so-cooperative colleague decides to throw in a last-minute suggestion. Feeling tired and frustrated, you choose to hear your colleague out. However, taking their advice would mean scrapping a huge chunk of your work and starting anew. At this point, you’re wondering if you’re able to hold back on your opinions or unleash your inner dragon.
Sounds familiar? We’ve all encountered some form of disagreement at the workplace at one point in time.
According to conflict management consulting firm, Pollack Peacebuilding Systems, over one-third of respondents to a CIPD study were found to have experienced either an isolated dispute or incident of conflict and/or a problematic ongoing relationship from 2018 to 2019. Based on these numbers, roughly 9.7 million employees have experienced some form of conflict at their workplace.
If you’re wondering what can be done to ease social friction and resolve a fall out (should it arise), here are a few useful tips for you to keep in mind.
1. Know when things go south
Embracing conflict is the first step to admitting there’s a breakdown in communication. While coming to terms with it may be uncomfortable, it’s important to remember conflict avoidance and pretending “Everything’s A-OK!” will only cause tensions to arise.
2. Let’s talk about it
Set some time aside to address the issue as soon as possible. Find a place where you can both be comfortable, sans interruptions, to have a candid conversation about the issue at hand and how both parties feel about the disagreement.
3. Get down to the facts
Don’t get personal. Revealing sensitive information about the other person and bringing up touchy topics unrelated to the dispute will only escalate the situation. Remember to be respectful of one another.
4. Take a breather!
If tensions are high, step away from the discussion and take a moment to gather yourself. It’s always better to be on the safe side of things by avoiding an argument than saying things that can’t be taken back.
5. Acknowledge the good
Despite feeling like you’re on opposing ends, try to find the positives in their point of view. Find some commonalities that may be beneficial to the situation. It’s always good to consider where they’re coming from before turning down their ideas.
6. I’m all ears
Be sure to listen with an open heart and mind. Set your phones aside and give your full attention to the other person. Reserve any judgments you may have and avoid interrupting them when they want to get their point across.
7. Take the high road
If the discussion to address the disagreement is heading nowhere and ‘agree to disagree’ feels like the next best option, you’re right. Knowing when to move on is key when choosing to disagree respectfully.
8. Words of Wisdom
If you’re in a leading position, provide some guidance to younger team members if they are facing a dispute. Step in and be a mediator when things start getting out of hand.
We hope you find these tips to be helpful in managing a disagreement. It’s crucial to be receptive of the other person’s perspective and to remember the reason you started collaborating in the first place. At the end of the day, you’re on the same team and a disagreement may even help you see things from a new point of view. As the Hungarian biochemist and Nobel Prize winner Albert Szent-Györgyi once said, “Discovery consists of looking at the same thing as everyone else and thinking something different.”
Sources:
Inc.
Entrepreneur
Pollack Peacebuilding
