The most sources of conflict are poor communication, competition over shared and scarce resources, disagreements about roles. And just planning misalignment regarding approaches and outcomes to goals. However, it is no coincidence that communication tops the list since it is the only tool needed to deal with all these sources. But when used poorly or not at all, it can also be the catalyst that can drive parties into conflict. Moreover, the escalation of conflict can lead to breakdowns in communication, false assumptions, and negative commitments. So preventing this escalation is the primary goal of effective communication. Below are some effective communication methods for managing conflicts and preventing them from escalating between team members and in the workplace:
1. Open communication
To avoid conflicts between team members and in the workplace, you, as a business leader, must prioritize open communication in your business. Because it is a great way to manage conflicts by getting conflicting parties to honestly and directly explain their thoughts, feelings, and solutions, note that achieving open communication requires you to enhance a sense of trust and safety and to consolidate it in the team culture with confidence and safety, and entrenching it in the team culture.
How to apply open communication:
- Ask some questions to the parties to the conflict, by answering which they can be more specific and more transparent about what frustrates them or their concerns that still need to be addressed.
- Please encourage them to listen and try to understand each other’s points of view.
- Get them more time to think and schedule a meeting for them the next day. Then when they think of how they would like to re-enter the conversation, ask them to return three written points they would like to discuss. Note that this gives the following discussion more focus and removes emotional reactions such as accusations and assumptions.
2. Assertive communication
Assertive communication is a skill that makes conflicting parties direct and more transparent about their desired outcomes. Note that using this skill to manage conflict should include proposing solutions and moving the conversation forward to reach a good end goal.
How to apply assertive communication:
- Determine the conditions for conducting discussions and conversations that could cause conflict during the meetings of the parties.
- Encourage the parties to the conflict to identify what is bothering them because this reduces the worsening of problems and conflicts. In addition, this also helps the parties not feel annoyed, offended, or disagreed.
- Carry on with the conversations, even if they are difficult or uncomfortable.
- Direct conflicting parties toward making “I feel” statements when discussing how they perceive other people’s words, thoughts, and actions.
3. Active listening
Active listening contributes significantly to understanding the conflict issue and knowing that when people feel threatened, they become defensive to protect themselves. Note that acting this way does not resolve conflicts but increases the rift between the parties and pushes away solutions. As a result, they stop listening and start mentally formulating their next attack while the other side speaks. Therefore, active listening contributes significantly to understanding the conflict issue at hand.
How to apply active listening:
- Ask each person to pause momentarily to think about what is being said. Then ask them to repeat what they feel has been communicated to them.
- Prevent people from talking to each other without adhering to the procedures and rules of discussions.
- Ask questions that help untangle conflicting viewpoints.
- Have the parties strive to find something positive about what was discussed. Knowing this practice as a leader is an excellent way for your team to start doing it naturally.
Often, conflict causes teams to have conversations that, while challenging, lead to tremendous personal and professional growth. As a successful team leader, foster effective communication methods for managing conflicts among your employees, and encourage them to resolve them by acquiring this valuable skill. As a result, this helps you run more smoothly by increasing bonds among team members who work together and maintain strong relationships to achieve the organization’s mission.
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