Resolving Conflict at the Office
Recently, I've run into a couple of situations with clients where there are some challenges in the interpersonal relationships within the office. And while the causes of the discontent aren’t relevant, the effect is the same---loss of productivity and too many relationship issues.
A study by BetterUp indicates that the stress caused by a conflict in the office occurs in 48% of all employees. Basically, conflicts in the office are realized by half of the employees in the US. This makes conflict resolution critical to leadership if we want to keep the issue at a minimum.
With clients, these conflicts seem to be on the rise. In the several cases I have experienced with clients, the rub is not a core issue to working together---not harassment, not mission issues, not anything serious. But while not core, it is distracting.
For Leaders – while not fun, getting involved and helping facilitate a middle ground of a conflict is important. By not helping to find a solution, my experience is that conflict just continues to grow and get worse. It feels uncomfortable. However, leveraging expertise on the outside if necessary, or creating space for differences is important in today's work environment.
For Employees - while work is important and the time there may be even more than you spend at home, you don't have to be married to anybody at the office (most of the time). You don't have to agree with everyone all of the time at the office. However, it is important to be able to reach common goals based on the plans and the mission of the organization. Sometimes, even when we're frustrated, just letting things go and not taking them personally allows for the work to continue. Having someone you trust to vent to, taking a walk, meditating, counting to 10, and/or walking away are examples of positive ways to cope with the stress of a relationship challenge. Of course, if it's a matter of safety or harassment, there's never an excuse for that kind of behavior and you should always protect yourself from true harm.
We live in complicated times which sometimes feels more about conflict than camaraderie. The news reflects this. Social media certainly reflects this. For both leaders and employees, remember the goal of the organization in the nonprofit world: To make the community a better place. Finding common ground in that be a cornerstone of reducing conflict in the office.
