Workplace Conflicts

As long as there is work to do and it is to be done by people, there will be workplace conflicts.

As a business owner and entrepreneur, we can take two approaches to managing our staff. We can work hard and spend energy to make sure our workplace is free of any conflicts no matter how incidental.

Or, we can know that as long as we employ people, there will be conflicts and these conflicts will be effectively managed as they surface.

In the first approach where we work to avoid conflicts, we spend all our efforts avoiding situations where conflicts could arise. We compromise our management skills and the talents of our employees to structure situations where conflicts are held to a minimum.

In the second approach, we know conflicts will arise. But we want to get the best out of our staff, so we let them run with their ideas, try new initiatives, be creative, and try new solutions to old problems. Every time something new is tried, something old is replaced. And that means someone’s toes get stepped on.

I prefer the style of managing for workplace conflicts instead of managing to avoid workplace conflicts.

Here are several ideas on what that management paradigm looks like.

1. Conflicts will occur. Be ready for them. Coach your staff to recognize them. In a highly energized and creative environment, each employee is capable of causing as many conflicts as they are the recipient of workplace conflicts.
2. Just because you are part of a team does not mean there is a vacuum of conflicts. Teammates frequently get tired of the role they are assigned. In a basketball analogy, some players may get tired of rebounding all the time and want the chance to be the player who takes the shot. Accept conflicts within your team as natural.
3. Establish lines of communication so that when the conflict occurs a mechanism is in place to talk through the ramifications, make necessary adjustments, and come up with a solution.
4. Continually remind everyone that workplace conflicts are not personal. When conflicts become personal, they are no longer a workplace conflict. This conflict is now a liability to the company which could easily end in a change in personnel.

Many people are not aware that the Bible has a lot to say about conflicts. Paul, at several of the churches he ministered to, often discussed how to resolve conflicts among the church members (Philippians 4:2-3, Romans 12:16, Acts 15).

When Jesus was asked to resolve an argument between a man and his brother (Luke 12:13-21), He said, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” But then Jesus went on to tell the parable of the rich fool to teach a lesson about perspective (which is generally what workplace conflicts are about).

James (James 4:1-12) also discussed in detail how to resolve conflicts. The solution to conflicts found in all these verses is humility. By maintaining an attitude of humility during a workplace conflict, the conflict will not become personal.

By taking on the attitude of humility you will:

• be open to conflict resolution,
• you will be able to forget and move on and, most importantly,
• you will maintain your sanity and positive attitude while many of those around you are allowing a trivial conflict to interrupt their job.

Philippians 2:3-4 says.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others.

Remember to look for solutions to workplace conflicts through humility.