One of the hardest tasks for a manager is dealing with conflict between two employees. For the employee, not getting along with a colleague or having a major issue can be an extremely upsetting situation. As a manger, it is your job to defuse the situation and find the best outcome for all concerned.
It can be as simple as moving around office seating and realising that different personalities don’t always gel, or it can be more in-depth and formal. To give you a quick overview, check out this video on how to deal with conflict.
As you can see, nobody likes dealing with conflict, but it’s something that must be done! So, what are the mains dos in this situation?
- Act promptly and effectively
- Keep your mind open and listen to both sides equally, whether in your office or around the meeting room table
- Remember that this is a highly emotive situation for those involved
- Encourage open lines of communication
- Treat both sides fairly and equally
- Use a mediator if you feel the need
- Be open to different solutions
Sitting around the boardroom table and chairs and dealing with conflict is difficult no matter what the severity of the issue, and managers should certainly have some form of conflict resolution to give them the tools to handle the situation properly.