As horrible as the coronavirus lockdown was, it did have a few silver linings. One of those silver linings was that people got to work from home. Not only does working remotely save money on transportation, but it let people be with their families. Not having to go to the office did not eliminate workplace disagreements entirely, but it did reduce them.
For better or worse, offices are reopening and conflicts between colleagues as well as disagreements between managers and their subordinates are sure to come back in full force. That means it is a good idea to use a few simple tactics to avoid conflict when you are at work.
Learn About Personality Conflicts
Some of the hardest things to avoid in any workplace are personality clashes. It is best to be mindful of these types of disputes when they begin. If you have a personality conflict with someone, one of the simplest things you can do is to avoid dealing with that person as much as possible. You should also avoid involving yourself in other people’s conflicts. It may feel good to take someone’s side or have someone take your side. However, forming cliques at work can eventually lead to trouble.
Although it may be difficult, it is best to keep some people at work at arm’s length. Remember that this is your livelihood, and taking care of your family is more important than getting involved in office drama.
Treat Everyone with Respect
Even if people rub you the wrong way, it is important to give them the benefit of the doubt and to treat them with respect. If people feel respected, they are more likely to listen to what you have to say and regard your opinion positively. They are also more likely to be reasonable to you if they have a problem with co-workers or disagree with something you said.
You should always remember to thank people who work with you on a project. Although they are just doing their jobs and are getting paid, they will still appreciate the acknowledgement.
Although you should respect everyone, you should never let anyone manipulate your emotions or take advantage of your goodwill.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Sometimes the smallest of annoyances can turn into a major conflict. For example, you may dislike someone’s cologne and mention it to a co-worker. If the wearer of the cologne hears about it, it may turn into a bigger conflict.
If you develop a negative impression of a co-worker based on a minor characteristic, everything about that co-worker will eventually start to annoy you.
Although it may sound corny, it is best to focus on what you like about your co-workers and how they contribute to the team rather than accentuating the minor flaws they might have.
You should try to avoid gossiping at work. It will only lead to more gossiping, and it can hurt feelings and productivity.
According to Pollack Peacebuilding Systems, if you and your employees are trained in conflict management and resolution, you will be able to detect small problems before they blossom into something that could impede your professional development and the productivity of your job.
