Resolving conflict to save costs
Change in the workplace is never easy, particularly given the current economic downturn and the associated challenges. While efforts to optimise performance are understandable, they can generate a great deal of anxiety and conflict among employees, which if not managed correctly can cost the company more than what they are trying to save.
According to an article on IT Online, workplace conflict costs has a direct impact on the bottom line. But a greater threat is often the “invisible” expenses that build up due to high levels of sick leave and absenteeism, higher staff turnover, lower productivity, burnout and a culture of quiet quitting.
While change is inevitable and agility is essential to the survival of any business, it’s important for business leaders to handle things the right way. Having a grip on how to manage conflict is enormously beneficial and can lead to a positive outcome for all.
Tips for managing conflict in the workplace:
This article by Mediate.com offers tools for resolving conflict, which include:
When emotions are heightened, most people become defensive and stop listening. It’s important to stay calm and listen and understand what the other person is saying to be able to respond appropriately.
Try to find the positives in the situation or at least some common ground. By expressing an understanding of what the person is going through, you can normalise the situation.
- Attack the problem not the person
Depersonalise your comments and focus on solving the issue.
- Focus on the future not the past
Instead of hammering on about what went wrong, it’s best to look to the future, because that’s where the solution lies.
Being right about an issue isn’t always the best approach, particularly when it comes to the bigger picture. Decide just how important the issue is to you on a scale of 1 to 10, if it’s not that important, it might be better to let it go, particularly in light of preserving good working relationships.
Many people don’t like conflict and will go out of their way to avoid it. But by remaining confident and using these tools, you can actually eliminate conflict before it has a chance to escalate.
Conflict resolution can be an uncomfortable process for all involved. It can take time to rebuild trust and rebuild relationships. It takes commitment from both parties to find a solution and come to an agreement. For these reasons there is nothing wrong with celebrating when a win-win agreement is reached.
While conflict resolution isn’t easy, it is a skill that can be improved upon with experience and given the high cost of conflict in the workplace, it’s one you shouldn’t ignore.
Michelle Frenzel - HR Manager - KYOCERA Document Solutions South Africa
