If not immediately addressed and corrected, conflicts in the workplace can cause all sorts of serious problems throughout an organization. These employment disputes can range from minor arguments to serious problems with management. It’s important to act quickly and properly handle any commercial dispute that is threatening your business.
Here are some helpful tips for addressing and handling workplace conflict and employment disputes:
- Prioritize fairness above everything — “Where a mutually acceptable outcome isn’t possible, make decisions that are grounded in fairness and understanding,” said Paul Russell, Director of Luxury Academy London.
Sometimes, you can’t resolve a workplace conflict — and that’s okay. Rather than ignoring the issue or forcing an unfair resolution, stick to the facts and ensure that no personal feelings or agendas enter into the equation. - Research relational leadership — Running a successful business doesn’t just mean you’re offering a quality product or service. You need to effectively handle your employees and keep them happy and engaged at all times. There are five main components of relational leadership that you should focus on this year, including: inclusion, empowerment, purposefulness, process orientation, and ethical behaviors.
- Focus on training — From the moment you hire a new employee, make sure they’re aware of the importance of being a team player. If everyone is on the same page, workplace conflict and disputes won’t occur nearly as often.
- Address the issue after everyone has calmed down — The last thing you should do is make an immediate decision when tempers are flaring. It’s best to discuss the issue before it escalates, but if it has already escalated, you should give each employee some time and space to calm down before you find a solution.
- Organize a staff meeting — In order to stop the issue from growing into a major concern, bring everyone in and discuss the problem. Don’t attack anyone, however. Instead, focus on active listening and speaking in a positive, respectful tone.
If you want to learn more about addressing Baltimore workplace conflict and successfully handling employment disputes, contact Baltimore Mediation right away!