“Communication is the key”: Conflict Resolution in Workplace
Conflict in the workplace refers to disagreements, tensions, or opposing viewpoints that can arise among or between employees and the management team. Having a healthy environment in the workplace is important to boost productivity and employee retention. However, it is a natural part of human interaction to be involved in any conflict in the workplace, such as having disagreements due to different perspectives. Unresolved conflict in the workplace can lead to a wide array of detrimental effects and lead to a toxic work environment.
How can communication overcome conflict resolution in the workplace?
Open and Honest Communication: By having an open and honest communication during discussion, you can create the environment as a safe space. Everyone will feel comfortable to express their thoughts and concerns without the fear of retribution. It also develops trust and demonstrates respect towards each other’s perspective.
Active Listening: Active listening is one of the communication techniques where the listener is fully engaged with the speaker and shows genuine understanding. You can give full attention to the speaker and avoid distractions to show some respect. Other than that, you can let the individuals talk without interfering and understand each other’s perspective afterwards.
Clarifying Misunderstanding: Clarification allows not only individuals to see it from others perspective but also help to understand the root causes of the issues to ensure that everyone understands the issues involved. It can also resolve confusion by asking for explanations and ensuring all parties have the same understanding of the information conveyed.
Effective communication is important for resolving conflicts and maintaining a positive as well as harmonious environment at the workplace. Aside from that, prioritizing communication not only resolves conflicts but it also enhances overall productivity, job satisfaction and organizational success. Embracing this approach ensures that conflicts are not just resolved but transformed into opportunities for growth and improvement.
References:
Varma, V. S., & Gupta, R. (2023). Conflict Resolution Strategies in the Workplace: Empirical Study of Managing Interpersonal and Tea, Conflicts. Ontologic, 01(01), 35-42. https://www.nirwanuniversity.ac.in/uploads/pdf/reshu-gupta.pdf
Adham, T. K. I. (2023). Conflict resolution in team: Analyzing the conflicts and best skills for resolution. Scholars Journal of Engineering and Technology, 11(08), 152–162. https://doi.org/10.36347/sjet.2023.v11i08.001
Written by Nurul Hazirah, PartnerInc International Intern from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
