Conflicts at work: how to be and how to prevent

Conflict at work is a serious problem in modern relationships. They have a depressing effect on the psyche of employees, reduce performance, create psychological discomfort within the organization and threaten the stability of the company as a whole.

The reasons for such conflicts are different. To solve the problems that have arisen in the team, it is necessary to find their causes, sources of conflict situations, only then it is possible to choose the right approach to resolving disagreements.

Causes of conflicts at work

Why is there tension between colleagues?

Unfortunately, there are many reasons for work conflicts:

• Fuzzy distribution of labor duties by management. In this case, some of the employees may be tempted to shift some of their work onto a colleague. Naturally, a conflict of interest arises.
• Psychological incompatibility of employees. For example, if a choleric person and a phlegmatic person work nearby, it may be difficult for them to calmly perceive each other.
• Personal dislike. If for some reason a personal conflict has arisen between colleagues, it will most likely spread to working relationships. Much here depends on the attitude of the entire team to the situation and its cohesion.
• Misunderstanding by colleagues of each other. It happens that people who work together do not seem to express any particular dislike for one another, but different social status, educational level, and demeanor interfere with their normal communication.

Conflicts at work: how to solve

Any conflict poisons life, therefore it is necessary to resolve it as soon as possible. The resolution of a conflict situation can be influenced by both the participants themselves and the immediate leader and other members of the team.

Here are some tips on how to quickly resolve a conflict at work.

1. Firstly, you should not show excessive aggression, snap back and get personal. You should behave politely, even underlined. This is not a sign of weakness; on the contrary, it will discourage the opponent and help put him in his place. You should also not constantly complain about the offender to your colleagues, especially since the conflict can embroil them too.
2. Secondly, the person should be listened to. It is possible that the problem is not as deep as it seems, it is just that he is influenced by someone's opinion, and with a frank personal conversation, the differences will be resolved.
3. If the conflict still cannot be stopped on your own, you can notify the boss. Still, you are at work, and any psychological problems harm the common cause.

Conflicts at work: how to avoid

To avoid conflicts at work, you should adhere to certain rules:

• When applying for a job, find out in detail your responsibilities. Do not hesitate to better clarify something with your boss, study the job description in advance.
• Do not give cause for conflict. It is necessary to remain neutral in relations with colleagues, to be calm and correct, not to slander or gossip.
• In conflicts within a team, you should not support either side too actively.
• The simplest but most effective advice: you need to treat your colleagues the way they would like to be treated you. That is, to be interested, to show sympathy, not to refuse small requests. Another good helper in any, including in a working relationship, a sense of humor.
• If there are various manifestations of envy or hostility, do not be nervous. Better to treat this kind of behavior with irony. Nevertheless, it is advisable to find out the reasons for this attitude. It can sometimes be helpful to speak frankly with detractors.

If desired, any conflict can always be resolved. In any case, a bad world is better than a good quarrel, and reaching a compromise with an opponent will be a better way out than firing or trying to get rid of an unwanted colleague.