Tips for Addressing Internal Conflicts in the Workplace [VIDEO]

Internal conflicts happen even in the healthiest workplaces. Learning how to address and manage these situations is a skill that will help you throughout your career. Watch this Vault video for tips on how to successfully mitigate internal workplace conflicts. 

Transcript

When team members are hardworking and passionate about the work they do, it’s not uncommon for tensions to become high and for internal conflicts to happen. Even the healthiest workplaces experience internal conflicts from time to time. Learning how to manage these situations and de-escalate them are key ways to maintain a harmonious workplace.

Don’t Play the Blame Game

Conflicts between coworkers can be easier to diffuse if both parties avoid playing the blame game and focus on what is wrong instead of who is wrong.

This can be achieved by using the common communication strategy of replacing “you” statements with “I” statements. This method helps direct your communication on how you feel about the situation and your ideas toward resolving it.

Instead of saying something like this:

“This shouldn’t have happened in the first place. How could someone miss this?”

Start out by saying something like this:

“I understand that it’s frustrating to face an obstacle like this so close to the deadline. However, I’m glad we caught this before sending it to the client.”

Here, you’ve validated your team members feelings while avoiding trying to pin point who is to blame for the frustrating situation. You also found positivity in a negative situation, which is a great way to lead a team.

There may still be some frustration in the aftermath of finishing the project. However, using these skills will help to de-escalate the conflict and turn it into a productive problem-solving moment.

For more career advice, check out Vault.com.