2. TALK WITH THE OTHER PERSON
• Ask the other person to name a time when it would be
convenient to meet.
• A hurried conversation at your desk between emails and phone
calls won’t solve anything.
• Arrange to meet in a place where you won't be interrupted.
3. APPROACH CONFLICT WITH AN OPEN
MIND
Different people have different perceptions, and solving
workplace conflicts requires finding a common ground, not
waiting until one person caves to the other
Try to understand the other person’s point of view
It’s very tempting to wait for a conflict to blow over by itself, but it
rarely does – in most cases it only gets worse with time.
4. CONSIDER WHAT MIGHT HAVE
CAUSED THE CONFLICT
Take an objective look at yourself and determine what you did or
said to contribute to the situation
Try to place yourself in the other person’s shoes
It’s essential to set a goal so both parties know the outcome
they’re aiming for. That makes reaching the outcome a lot more
likely.
5. BE RESPECTFUL OF DIFFERENCES
Workplaces are diverse places, today more than ever, and what
is acceptable to one person may be offensive to another.
Treat others how you want to be treated!!!!
6. AVOID THE BLAME GAME
Assigning blame is only helpful in one instance in problem solving
- if you assign it to yourself.
Don’t point the finger, own up to your mistakes
7. ASK!
In the early stages of a conflict the most powerful tool to resolve it
is simple: Ask! If somebody has done something that made you
angry, if you don’t understand somebody’s viewpoint, if you
don’t understand their actions – ask!
Do it nicely. “Say, I was wondering why you did ‘X’ yesterday” or
“I’ve noticed that you often do ‘Y’. Why is that?”
