How to Resolve Conflict In Business ?

Conflict, confrontation, disputes, arguments; they all happen in the workplace. Although business-related conflict may be completely inevitable, it does not have to be harmful to a new company. In fact, arguments can be productive for a new business. Managed conflict has the ability to provide an exchange of diverse ideas.

Following through with productive conflict can be difficult. Below are five helpful tips to help you and your co-workers argue in an effective and benefitting manner.


1. Speak the same language
Most of the time, arguments in the workplace are simply agreements cloaked in competing vocabularies. This is because everybody, from programmers to designers, managers to marketers, speaks a different work language. If you take a step back and analyze what the dispute is really about, most of the time it will be an issue of misunderstanding. These are the easiest conflicts to work out. They require a small clarification, and then both parties can move on.

2. Be solution-oriented
Do not argue just for the sake of arguing. Additionally, do not continue to argue just so that you can win. Confrontations must be solution-oriented. While arguing, be sure to keep in mind what is causing the problem and how it can be fixed. This allows for a more open communication.

3. Respect one another
Because you are in the workplace, it is extremely important to stay calm, cool, and collected when in conflict. If both parties stay professional during an argument, a solution can be made quickly without chaos in the office. It is important to address conflict with an attitude of sincere desire to improve the situation. Do not confront it with negativity and a desire to complain.

4. Negotiate
In business conflict, both parties must have a willingness to negotiate in order to find a solution. It is important to stay flexible during an argument. If the other party is failing to negotiate, you may need to take the trade-off approach. This approach follows the idea of "you take this one; I'll take the next one." If negotiation is not an option, go with the other person's idea, and the next time, you get to follow through with your ideas.

5. Brute Force
When all else fails, the power of brute force is the option to turn to. This is when you ask the highest authority to make the call. This could be a manager, founder, CEO, or president. Sometimes, it is just what has to be done.

According to Jason Fried, co-founder of 37 signals, "When people dig in and defend their positions, a deeper understanding of a problem is possible. As long as people are defending a genuine idea and not just their pride, much can be learned". When you and your "opponent" are trying to convince one another, it allows for the both of you to think harder about what you believe and why you believe it. It's all about how passionate you are about the actual conflict at hand.

When following these helpful tips, you will have a much more effective and positive view on the issue of business conflict. Although the argument may not be fun at the time, it could actually do wonders for you and for your business.

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