Handle Conflicts at Work with Confidence.

Conflicts at work are going to happen, but they can actually be a good way to build strong relationships with people.  

As a woman in leadership being able to handle conflicts at work and have a productive team are key executive leadership skills and can be an exercise in building confidence. Being able to help your team to resolve conflicts at work instead of trying to avoid them can have a positive impact on the work culture. It’s really important to help your team to use conflicts as an opportunity. Nonprofit organizations can be high-stress environments due to managing the needs of populations who are at risk, high rates of staff turnover, a lack of perceived growth opportunities, and internal and external systematic pressures.  One of the most common leadership challenges is knowing how to handle conflicts so they don’t become disruptive. When a leader can handle conflicts well it can reinforce the message that people’s points of view are respected.  It can lead to increased trust in leadership and model for staff on how to effectively problem solve. 

See the conflict from all sides.  

Workplace conflicts are one of the biggest contributors to stress for women in leadership. It takes a toll on everyone and contributes to job dissatisfaction and personal stress. This is an opportunity for building and using emotional intelligence. Understanding the conflict from each perspective, what are the stresses, the pressures, the goals, and the demands contributing to the workplace conflict is the first step to resolve it.   Once you understand what is motivating the other person, you can make better decisions, tailor your communications, and make sure everyone wins.  

Recognize that everyone involved in the conflict may have good intentions.

Each person is seeing the conflict based on their experiences.  But most likely, they want a similar outcome as you do. As a team leader, when you feel confident in your leadership abilities, you can use your own coaching skills to help them to work collaboratively. If this is an area of struggle, it’s also an opportunity to use external group and team building workshops and exercises that can support a collaborative work environment.  This can encourage people to share their thoughts and create the opportunity for dialogue.  Workshops introduce various conflict resolution games and activities that help to surface tensions and teach teams skills to manage conflicts successfully which leads to increased by-in.  

Manage how conflicts get discussed at work.

Make sure that conflicts are not discussed with people who are not directly involved. Be respectful of what you share and with who.  When you become aware that people are airing grievances out, be assertive about what is okay and what is not. If you need support, make sure to get it from your supervisor or advisory board but also be prepared with ideas about how you believe the conflict can be resolved. If the conflict is with your own boss, talk it through with someone who is not an employee such as a mentor. You can also work with an executive coach that will help you to think through the issues critically, provide a sounding board, and create and implement a strategic plan.

Be helpful/Be proactive in ending conflicts at work.

Don’t let conflicts at work fester. Once you see that there is an issue, do your best to address it.  Think about what can be done immediately to end the conflict. How can you work with other people to come to a resolution? Keep in mind that any solutions that are generated should connect with the values of the work you’re doing. Conflicts should be resolved in a way that is in line with the vision and mission of the organization. In the end, you’ll boost your confidence and gain the respect of your team, board, and key stakeholders when you handle conflicts effectively.  Your team will also learn new skills and appreciate that you are able to help them manage these issues.  If you are ready to focus on becoming a confident leader, click here to set up a fit call and discuss our leadership coaching services.

Achieve the Best You!