Addressing Conflict in the Workplace

Though unpleasant, conflict in the workplace is inevitable when two or more people are present. Today's Tools & Tips article on NFIB.com offers several strategies appropriate for dealing with conflict in your small business, such as:

• Avoidance. Though it can be an escape mechanism, avoidance can be appropriate when: It isn't your problem; there's nothing you can do about it; it's inconsequential and not worth the effort; the disruption of facing it outweighs the benefits of resolution; or you see that the situation will correct itself if you wait it out. And temporary avoidance can be a correct call when at least one party is emotionally upset.


• Fight. There's often the temptation to fight, but doing so can be dangerous. A fighting posture often sparks retaliation and starts a "war." But an instant decision to fight can be appropriate when safety is at stake, or apparent ethical or legal violations occur.


• Surrender. Surrender may be the wisest course of action when: You know the other party is right; you have no stake in the issue; giving on a small item can mean winning a more important one later; harmony and stability can be achieved; or your chance of winning is slim to none.


• Compromise. This is the partial win strategy we all have to settle for on occasion. This allows all parties to get part of what they want, so there's some satisfaction for all. Union-management disputes, even international disputes, are settled by compromise. The downside is that no participants get everything they want.


• Collaboration. The basis for collaboration is established when the parties to the conflict agree to attack the problem rather than each other, and difficulty is approached through honest and open discussion. This true win-win approach to conflict resolution usually requires more creative solutions, but it often reveals that the best answer is one that neither side had thought to demand.