Managing Conflict in the Workplace
Embracing the Positive Potential
Wouldn't it be great if we all got along in the workplace? Imagine if we all just clicked at work, agreeing on everything and aligned on our views and approaches. Sounds perfect, right? But let's think about it—how realistic and productive would that actually be, or would it just be plain boring?
The workplace, whether in-person or virtual, is a hub where employees can share their different perspectives and ways of doing things, which can enhance creativity and productivity.
Without questioning or challenging existing processes, assumptions, or directions, we risk missing out on innovative and often more efficient solutions. As the quote famously attributed to Einstein goes, 'The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.' Often, great ideas and improvements stem from challenging the status quo.
Differing Perspectives
Having different views can feel uncomfortable, regardless of whether you are the person presenting or encountering these differing views. Matters between employees can even escalate into disagreements or conflicts if either party feels strongly enough about pushing their views.
So, should we avoid these situations entirely and remain silent when alternative views seem unwelcome?
It's natural to react defensively to opposing views, often seeing the employee raising them as a threat—and before we know it, this leads to an instinctual response of fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. Some of your employees will feel the urge to fight their corner or take flight and leave the situation. Others will freeze like a rabbit caught in headlights, hoping to not be seen or heard and avoid being drawn into conflict. For some, they will simply fawn and agree, in order to stop the perceived escalation and feeling uncomfortable.
Welcoming Conflict
Yet, recognising conflict as an opportunity rather than a threat is crucial, and a helpful way to positively reframe the situation. Conflict should not be feared but welcomed under certain conditions and used to harvest the passion all parties have and focus it towards finding the best solution. When conflict is used creatively and deliberately, it can spark innovation and deliver better solutions.
Consider these three benefits which may help you to reframe your view of conflict in the workplace from solely negative to potentially positive:
Shifting Perspectives: Recognise the positive potential in disagreements and how conflict can spark employees to be more creative, innovative, and open to exploring new ideas. For instance, a marketing team with differing views on a new campaign could, through healthy debate and constructive conflict, develop a more compelling and effective strategy that incorporates diverse perspectives.
Fostering Healthy Debate: By promoting a culture that values healthy, even robust debate, managers can use differing viewpoints to create more robust decision-making processes and better outcomes. An example is a product development team working through design conflicts to create a more innovative, marketable product through open communication, constructive criticism and conflict management.
Promoting Teamwork and Cohesion: Positive conflict management can strengthen team dynamics and foster a sense of unity among colleagues. Conflict can be used to enhance collaboration, build trust, and reinforce the collective purpose of the team. By working through the issues, the whole team can be part of finding solutions, resulting in stronger, more bonded and engaged teams. An example is when a customer service team disagree on how to deliver a more cost effective service, faces the conflict and emerges as a stronger, more cohesive team for resolving their internal disputes. The company benefits from increased contribution and engagement from the employees which leads to greater customer satisfaction.
By reframing our perception of conflict in the workplace and adopting an open mindset, we have the opportunity to transform conflicts into opportunities for growth, innovation, and stronger team bonds.
Want to Embrace the Positive Potential of Conflict?
People contribute at their highest level when they have the right tools and skills to work productively in their roles. In our course, we provide individuals and teams with the tools and capabilities to see conflict as an opportunity rather than a threat. As a result of attending our Managing Conflict Course, your employees will be able to recognize the positive potential in disagreements and how conflict can catalyse the team to be more creative, and innovative, and contribute to the organisation at a higher level. Our toolkit will support their new thinking and set your team on a path to success.
