Adams & Garth Blog

As a staffing agency working with employers in Harrisonburg, Staunton, Culpeper – and throughout Central Virginia – we know that conflicts at work can cause great harm to your company. That’s why it’s so important to deal with them at the very first sign.

So what can you do to effectively manage issues at work? Here are some tips:

Tip #1: Don’t expect the conflict to simply go away on its own.

It may seem easier to just ignore the conflict and hope it will go away. But that would be a mistake. Even if you think the conflict is not a big deal, it’s important to address it immediately. A conflict that goes unresolved can quickly spin out of control, leading to negative results for you and your team.

Tip #2: Meet with everyone involved at once.

Schedule a meeting with all the parties involved. Go around the room and ask each to explain their side of the story. Don’t comment or interrupt. Simply listen at this point.

Tip #3: Come up with solutions together.

Brainstorm some solutions for the conflict. Ask each individual how they would like to see the conflict resolved. Don’t take sides, even if you think one employee is right over another. Your employees are professionals and should be able to resolve the conflict in an adult-like manner.

Tip #4: Help to find a middle ground.

Once you’ve all met and put everyone’s thoughts and feelings on the table, each side may be better able to understand each other. Oftentimes, conflicts are simply misunderstandings. So hopefully, at this point, there is a compromise that can be reached. If your employees are unwilling to compromise, explain that you may be forced to take disciplinary action.

Tip #5: Follow up.

Set aside some time in the near future to meet with the parties involved and check on how things are going.

Mediating a conflict isn’t fun, but it’s a necessity. Why? Because when conflicts are not dealt with effectively, they can lead to the break down of your team – and your company. If you need help resolving conflicts at work, or with developing a disciplinary action program for your company, please contact Adams & Garth. We can help.