How to Resolve Conflicts With Other Teammates at Work
Instead of ignoring the problem or letting it ruin your day, try these tips to help you communicate clearly and get to the root of the issue.
It’s only natural to run into an occasional conflict with a teammate at work, but when you do, it’s not always easy to handle. Experts have found that the energy and attitude of our co-workers can impact how we feel on a day to day basis –– so when our work environment is filled with tense or unhappy feelings, our own happiness and work performance can suffer. That’s why, instead of ignoring the conflict or letting it ruin your day, it’s important to equip yourself with simple tools to help you resolve the issue maturely and professionally.
Here are a few tips that can help you resolve your next conflict with a teammate:
Pause to think about your words before you respond
We learn in kindergarten that it’s important to “think before we speak” — and when it comes to having healthy workplace conversations, this age-old saying is especially important. Before you disagree or argue with a coworker, try pinpointing what the purpose of your response is — to work through a problem or solution — and take some time to come up with a solution. You may even want to say something like, “Let me think about the best way we can handle this and get back to you soon” — giving yourself and your teammate some time to process your conflicting opinions before you say something you’ll regret.
Use compassionate directness instead of ignoring the problem
When you disagree with one of your teammates, it’s tempting to just ignore the conflict and hope it goes away. But usually, doing that only backfires and prevents you from speaking up in the future. Instead, take this moment as an opportunity to speak up and give feedback with clarity, but also with compassion, kindness, and understanding. At Thrive, we call this compassionate directness, and it’s all about arming yourself with the tools to overcome challenges and reach an understanding without ignoring the issue or letting it escalate.
Prepare for interactions with negative coworkers in advance
If there’s a certain person at work who you know usually brings a negative attitude or tries to start conflicts with others, prepare yourself in advance for how you’ll handle interactions with that person. Jessica R. Methot, Ph.D., an associate professor at the School of Management and Labor Relations at Rutgers University, says coming up with a few positive responses in advance can help save you the stress and the potential conflicts that could arise. “Prepare answers in advance,” she suggests, “and create a positive space where you can relax before the interaction” in order to go into it with an open and positive mindset, and avoid being railroaded by any negative energy.