Learning to navigate conflicts is not really a choice in today’s organizations. It’s an imperative. In this article, the author explains what conflict resolution is, why it’s an essential skill, and how to approach the conflict-resolution process. She offers four steps: 1) Try to see the situation from the other person’s point of view; 2) Pinpoint what the conflict is really about; 3) Think about your primary goal; and 4) Decide how to proceed. Mastering all of this will not absolve you from having conflicts at work. But that isn’t the goal. You may on occasion still react in a way that you regret. But by following the advice above, those occasions will be fewer and less painful — for you and your colleagues.
Let’s get something out on the table: Workplace conflict is a normal, inevitable part of interacting with other people.
