Conflict is inevitable, both in business and life. But there are proven ways to move past it quickly with your temper and your business in tact – and this podcast has all the answers.
Below is some advice from Nicole Cullen who is a nationally accredited mediator, facilitator, and trainer with an expertise in dispute system design.
As a former litigation lawyer, Nicole is a boss at conflict resolution and stops by to share her expertise on the subject. She explains how to spot the initial signs of conflict and when it’s the right time to call on outside help. She also gives some tactical tips on her favorite activity: getting conflicted parties to have constructive dialogue and move forward in the workplace.
Recognizing conflict is not always simple, as it can present itself in many ways. A decrease in morale, absenteeism and low productivity are just a few of the symptoms to look out for, according to Nicole.
As a first step, Nicole encourages trying to manage the conflict in-house. If that works, great! If not, then bringing in a mediator can help settle things quickly to get your employees and your business back on track. And the quicker the resolution the better.
“The longer you leave the conflict, the more likely the parties become polarized and very locked into their own position. People go off to get legal advice. They start talking to other advisors and start getting more information about their own situation – becoming more sure and more satisfied that they are right and the other person is wrong,” says Nicole.
Also, if you’re the one that’s involved in the conflict, try taking a step back and looking at things from the other person’s perspective. The way you deal with a situation may not be the same as the person next to you.
“In the workplace, and in life, we’re all different personalities and we can’t expect everyone to be the same as us. But the more we understand the other person and their personality breakdown – what causes them stress, what puts them under pressure – the better we can relate to them and the fewer conflicts we have,” explains Nicole.
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Original Source: Xero Blog
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