How to Resolve Conflicts at Work
Have you ever felt that someone you work with doesn't like you?
Or perhaps you just found a colleague difficult to work with?
Poor relationships with colleagues are common and can affect anyone, in any kind of work.
In a 2019 survey by the UK's Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), 35% of employees said they had had conflict at work over the past year.
Workplace conflict can include anything from small differences of opinion to bullying or other serious problems, said Rachel Suff of the CIPD.
In the CIPD survey of about 2,200 people, 26% of employees said conflicts were common, while 15% said they had been bullied at work over the past three years.
Suff warns that differences between people can grow into bigger conflicts if they are not resolved quickly.
The University of California, San Diego (UCSD), says people should talk to a difficult colleague, listen carefully, and make a plan to work through each problem.
Amy Gallo of Harvard Business Review asks people to remember that "not everyone sees things the same way."
If you discuss differences with a colleague, don't worry about who is right or wrong, but try to find ways to improve things, she said.
Gallo, who wrote a book on working with difficult people, said small actions can often have a big impact.
She said people should stay open-minded about possible ways to improve a poor relationship.
While it's normal to have conflicts, working to find solutions can lead to better relationships and a nicer workplace for everyone.
1. Have you ever had a conflict at work? How did you resolve it?
2. Do you find it surprising that workplace conflicts are so common?
3. Is there anyone at your place of work who's difficult to work with?
4. Which of your colleagues do you get on with best?
5. Would you describe most of your colleagues as open-minded?
6. Do you have any colleagues who often disagree with each other?
7. Which of your coworkers is best at dealing with difficult situations?
8. Do you think it's possible to have a good relationship with everyone at work?
9. What do you think could be done to make your workplace a nicer place to be?