by D. P. Noe

Created on: September 20, 2008   Last Updated: December 24, 2009

Everyone has a different way of reacting to conflict in the working environment. If you can learn to listen and acknowledge these differences, it will help individuals to work more effectively together. Learning to work through conflict situations will build stronger working relationships. If you can effectively deal with conflict, you will build stronger teamwork and encourage creative resolutions to issues. If you do not handle conflict you will have the direct opposite and damage teamwork and creative resolutions will not be initiated. In order to handle conflict, address problems before they have a chance to escalate so that conflict can be avoided..

Having different points of view in an organization can create conflict. On the other hand encouraging different points of view will have the organization look at several ways of thinking and create a work environment were individuals will actively exchange their ideas. After you have had a chance to examine different points of view, it is the opportunity to look at which point if view had the most support and if it will work for your organization. If conflict is present, develop a plan on how to deal with it and then do not be afraid to confront the conflict that is present.. This is the time to lay out your expectations on what goals need to be reached and keep everyone on the same page.

If you have ever noticed that individuals involved in a conflict situation spend most of their time talking and not listening, this is a major reason for conflicts to remain unresolved. Instead of an individual listening to another person while they are speaking, the other individual is busy thinking of ways they are going to support their viewpoint. It is essential for conflict management resolution that you learn to give the person speaking your total attention. This is not the time to think about how you are going to respond. To ensure that you understand what another individual is saying, the use of paraphrasing will help to ensure that you understand and will show the person speaking that you are actively listening to them.

Management has the challenge to learn to manage conflict. Wherever there are a group of individuals working together, conflict will show its face and the quicker it is handled the easier it is to manage the conflict. Handling conflict at work can be tough, there are forceful egos, individuals who feel they are always right, and people who just want to have the last word. There are typical behaviors

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