Conflict in the workplace happens, even among the best of friends. That doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to resolve conflict and get a positive outcome from the situation.  A few steps should be taken as soon a possible so you can resolve your conflict and start getting things done again.  Here are some suggestions to help. 

#1. Don’t Wait. 

When conflict happens, take care of it as soon as possible. Don’t wait until it starts festering and getting out of control. For instance, if there’s been a miscommunication or a difference in how to reach goals, address these issues immediately.  Communication problems and goal ambiguity are two of the most common causes for conflict in the workplace. Knowing this is important because you can be more conscious of when these problems are occurring. Address these issues as soon as you realize they’ve occurred and you’ll prevent a small conflict from snowballing into a big one. 

#2. Get Clarity. 

When you’re in doubt about what’s causing a problem, ask question and get clarity. You can tell if someone is upset but you may not know why.  Instead of waiting, start asking questions.  Ask the other person what’s upsetting him or her so you can discover if there’s been a misunderstanding.  Ask about their opinion on the problem, it you’ve been misunderstood, or if you’ve misunderstood them. Just be sure to get clarity so you can clear the air.    

#3. Restate the Issues. 

A great lesson in communication is restating an issue that you hear to be sure you are clear on it.  To make sure you heard what was stated and that you and the other person are understanding things in a similar manner, mirror what they’ve said back to them.  An example is, “It sounds to me that you’re saying,” or “I understand you’re saying.  This will help bring  quick clarification and prevent real conflicts from sparking. 

#4. Be Ready to Apologize.  

Saying you’re sorry is not a easy thing to do. But taking the high and admitting a mistake or just being the first to end the conflict by offering an apology can go a long ways.  An apology goes miles towards lowering someone’s defenses. It doesn’t have to be long and drawn out; just a simple, “I’m sorry we’ve had this misunderstanding,” lowers the tension and puts the other party in a more compatible frame of mind.  

#5. Criticize with Care. 

The art of giving constructive criticism is necessary in the workplace. To give constructive criticism use the sandwich principle. That means you’ll sandwich any criticism between two bookends of praise. For example, “You have a wonderful way of motivating the team.  I think if you could work on following up with them regularly our projects will run more smoothly.  You know your team well so I’m sure they’ll be responsive.” 

#6. Share Expectations. 

Not knowing what the other person wants or needs can be the beginning of conflict.  Be sure to be clear about your workplace expectations if you’re the boss or the one carrying out the work. Use clear and concise language to avoid people misunderstanding you. Remember it’s okay to ask for clarification because you really want to be sure you’re understood.  

#7. Stay Positive. 

Nothing helps to beat conflict like a good positive outlook.  Even though you can expect conflicts to show their ugly face almost daily in the workplace, you can take the position to approach each day, task, and co-worker with a positive attitude. As a result, you’ll find that many potential conflicts will simply fade away.  Being position has a contagious effect so share that positive feeling with everyone and make the whole workplace experience a better thing. 

Still can’t get along?  When all else fails, don’t be afraid to ask for mediation.  Sometimes people just can’t get along or they just don’t communicate well.  This means working together is going to be extra difficult.  If a situation arises and the steps you’ve taken to remedy the conflict aren’t working, ask for help.  Many larger companies offer mediation services or you can bring in a superior to help clear up the situation.

Do you think communication is mostly done through words? What if you found out that communication is actually 70% non-verbal? That means it’s your body language including your movements, eyes and even hands that say things more often and louder than your mouth. The ability to communicate with clarity and effectiveness is an imperative skill for organizational leaders.  Here are important ways to make your communication more productive and effective.

1. Provide clear information

Passing information from one person to the next is the purpose of workplace communication. If your communication isn’t complete and accurate, it can cause confusion instead of clarity. Carefully plan your communication to be sure you are passing along the correct information and the right amount so those you are communicating with understand what you want to say.

2. Communicate honestly

People know when something isn’t adding up. If you try to communicate something that isn’t totally true and honest it will eventually be revealed. It’s difficult to maintain dishonest communication in the workplace (or anywhere else) because it gets too complicated to hold all of the stories together. Instead of saying things that aren’t totally true, just say less. Speak the truth and leave the rest for later or don’t say it at all if it’s not true and honest.

3. Bring non-verbal and verbal communication together

Remember, communication is both non-verbal and verbal. Sometimes, a person says one thing but acts in a different way. For instance, it’s not uncommon to hear someone say “Yes” but shake his head in a horizontally which indicates “No” in a non-verbal way (in the US culture that is). This sends mixed messages. Bring your communication together by being conscious that your non-verbal and verbal messages are in agreement.

4. Listen

Listening is an important communication skill that is seldom done well. In order to actually share information with another person, you have to hear what is being communicated. This way you can respond to the actual message. Most conflict stems from poor listening. To help learn how to listen well, take time to repeat what you here from the other person. Simply paraphrase what you heard to verify accuracy. This will cut down on conflict and vastly increase the effectiveness of your communications.

5. Ask questions

Asking questions is a good way to verify what you hear so you respond appropriately. Questions let the other person have the chance to clarify what they said. It also allows you to hear a response in a different way or just hear it again in order to be sure of what you heard. Make sure your questions relate specifically to what is being said. Don’t change the conversation by bringing in a question on a totally different matter. Also use questions to gather quick additional points that help you understand the conversation.

6. Let others talk

Have you ever been stuck in a meeting when only one person did all of the talking? Some people even go so far as to ask a question and provide the answer? Few things are as irritating as having a person dominate a conversation. A conversation is a two way event at a minimum. Remember to let the others speak. Even if you have a lot to say, dominating a conversation becomes a monologue, not a conversation. Solicit opinions, ask for response, and bring others into the conversation. Sometimes, all it takes is to be quiet for a moment.

7. Engage in Difficult Conversations When necessary

Do you ever avoid saying what needs to be said or avoid a difficult conversation altogether? Not saying something doesn’t make a situation go away. Instead, things usually just get worse. Not communicating can also cause more stress and trauma in a situation. Instead of avoiding difficult communications, sit down and plan out what you’re going to say. Actually write down the important points in order to feel comfortable about what you have to say. Make sure the tone you use is open and non-confrontational in order to encourage feedback from the other person. Conversations aren’t always fun but getting the words out will relieve the tension and let the matter move forward.

Obviously there’s a lot more that can be said about communications in the workplace. Starting with these top seven tips provides a good beginning to making you a better workplace communicator. Remember, practice makes perfect. Use daily opportunities to practice your communication skills until you feel comfortable in any situation that arises in the organization.