At cross purposes

You're part of a dynamic team that is working on a cutting edge deal. Frayed nerves and high tension is but a part of the work. However, heightened stress levels can causes much pressure and anxiety. What's the price being paid? It's your peace of mind that you've traded every time such a high-tension assignment comes along. Any kind of work calls for some creativity to meet the benchmark for quality, and the resulting conflict is an inevitable part of the process.

Conflicts generate ideas. A clash of ideas, divergent views, and conflicting actions usually build up stress levels and lead to either of the two alternatives, destructive repercussions or constructive progress.

If viewed as an opportunity for development, and advancement, conflicts can produce startling outcomes, both, at a personal and professional level. Change, growth and progress are often the results of conflict. They can bring out innovative ideas and solutions.

Conflicts can cause a lot of paradoxical reactions to emerge. At the workplace, however, conflicts need to be addressed as they may lead to irresolvable differences. It can even affect the organisation in terms of employee and profit turnovers.

So how do you deal with such situations and still get the best out of it?

Be open minded

When you're heading a team or are part of a team, a clash of ideas is natural. Thrashing out ideas during a brainstorming session can help you collate and gather all the useful and innovative ideas. Problems, work assignments and projects can be dealt with in an innovative manner. Let prejudice and personal opinion not cloud any constructive suggestions that you may receive from your co-worker or subordinate.

Temper tantrums

Avoid flying off the handle. Being opposed is not easy to handle, especially when the opposing view is totally divergent and probably better than yours. Rather than letting it erupt into a dramatic showdown, calm down and assess the situation in an objective manner.

Speak easy

Staying deliberately incommunicado is one of the chief reasons for literally inviting trouble. Conflicts occur due to a breakdown in communication. The issue can become complicated and destructive if it is not managed effectively. Maintain an open channel of communication to iron out differences and misunderstandings.

High on attitude

Conflicts at the workplace can be difficult to handle. Those that arise due to diverse opinions and ideas are easier to resolve, as they are issue based. People based or personalised issues are trickier, as it is easy to be influenced by negative perceptions and prejudices about the person. A rigid and an inflexible attitude can only aggravate conflicts further. Adopt an approachable demeanour and focus on the issue rather than the person.

Difficult people

Taciturn people can make your work life difficult. Working with them can prove to be an effort at maintaining your peace of mind. When dealing with uncooperative co-workers or senior colleagues, ensure that your communication is simple, clear and precise. Avoid colouring your messages with unnecessary personal quips or sarcasm.

In the attic

Ignoring conflicts and letting them stagnate is a bad idea. This not only suppresses the inherent negative feelings but can also cause deep-seated resentment to surface, souring your professional relationships. Like bad debts, unresolved conflicts can haunt you and ruin a good day. Co-operation and a willingness to meet the other person halfway are vital in solving workplace conflicts. Initiate the truce and offer the olive branch for peace!

Active listening

Active listening can be a cure to many an ill, including resolving conflicts. The speaker is left with the feeling of having been heard. It enhances your communication skills and paves the way to building better rapport.

The final countdown

The simplest way to handle a conflict is to simplify it to the bare minimum. Identify the root cause of the problem and deal with it right away. View it from different perspectives and adopt the simplest and most innovative solution. If an impasse has already been reached and it is difficult to resolve the matter without resorting to blows, perhaps it's time to invite a mediator.

It's easy to blow problems out of proportion. The real problem arises when the issue assumes a larger than life proportion. So fix the problem at the right time and move on!

SAMYUKTA KODA

samyukta.hyd@careercommunity.co.in