No leader can avoid conflicts in the workplace. Even if he tried it, he would fail. Conflicts should be accessed directly - you should not be afraid but rather welcome the conflicts and learn to work with them. After all - it's your job.
Conflicts usually arise from two basic causes. The first is poor communication - lack of information, no information or bad information. The second is decision-making based on emotions. The solution is therefore clear, timely and accurate communication while maintaining a cool head. Forbes.com brought some specific tips on how to better manage conflicts in the workplace.
1. Define the boundaries of acceptable behavior
The basis of conflict prevention lies in clear job descriptions and a chain of command so that your workers know what is expected of them. Let your people know what will and what will not be tolerated clearly and publicly.
2. Resolve conflicts directly
If you fail to prevent a conflict, you should resolve it as soon as possible. Prevention will help you again. Time spent on identifying and understanding the causes of conflicts is not good only for prevention, but also to accelerate management of the conflicts that you failed to prevent.
3. Search the WIIFM (What's In It For Me) factor
Learn to understand the motivations of others. When you approach conflict as helping others to achieve their goals, you will encounter much less obstacles.
4. Evaluate the importance of situations
Avoid conflicts "only for conflict" that do not result from any important circumstance or situation. However, if you evaluate the situation as serious enough for the emergence of a conflict, follow the rule to solve it as soon as possible.
5. Take conflicts as opportunities
Each conflict brings an opportunity to learn something new. If you do not work with conflicts within the development of your team or leadership, you are depriving yourself of many opportunities.
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