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Managing Conflict In Your Business

November 8, 2023

It’s easy to think that conflict between employees only happens face to face but, as the way we work begins to change you should stay alert to the fact that conflict can still arise in your business even where you have employees working remotely.

With home working set to stay for some and others taking a hybrid approach it’s important to keep an eye out for any issues that might arise between employees and to address any conflict quickly and head on to avoid situations escalating into a formal dispute.

But how do you manage conflict in your business when employees are working remotely, and the typical warning signs might not be as visible?   

Be mindful 
Everybody has been impacted by Covid and although on the surface people may have adjusted there can still be underlying pressures that could build up over time - as an example and employee who has a partner that is at risk of redundancy or has a vulnerable adult living with them may have outside pressures which mean that their ability to cope with conflict is reduced. 

Whilst you can’t be expected to be a mind reader remember that the pandemic is going to impact people in different ways. Individuals’ personal circumstances can also lead to employees looking at their colleagues in a different light with negative thought’s creeping in such as ‘it’s been easier for them’ These types of thoughts can lead to conflict further down the line so if you hear anything like this in your business encourage employees to be mindful of their colleagues circumstances.

Remember our ability to cope with conflict had decreased
After months of being in lock down the isolation from everyday situations can mean that an individual’s capacity to deal with conflict is reduced.  

Something which may have been easy enough for an employee to deal with in the past may seem insurmountable to them now so don’t make assumptions based on how you would react to a situation, keep an open mind, and listen to what the employee is telling you so that you spot the signs of conflict early on.

Tackle conflict when is arises 
If you become aware of conflict address it head on (as it will only get worse) Start by reaching out to the employees involved and encourage them to have a direct conversation to try and resolve the issues. If that doesn’t work don’t avoid the situation on the basis that the employees aren’t physically in the office together, instead consider mediation and using an impartial 3rd party to help get things back on track as quickly as possible.

Make time for employees to connect
Remote working fundamentally reduces the opportunity for impromptu chats……. the time when you ask about how somebody’s weekend was or ask them for help with an issue……. all the conversations that are key in helping to build meaningful relationships and trust.

The lack of this connection combined with virtual communication can often be the cause of conflict and misinterpretation between employees. Make sure that there are regular times when employees can meet and be together face-to-face such as team lunches or events or try having 15-minute breaks where employees are encouraged to connect online with somebody in the business that they would not normally speak with. 


Train your managers
It’s important that the leaders in your business have the confidence and the skills to manage conflict. Consider training for your leaders so that they are equipped to deal with situations as they arise and to reduce the need for external support.

As your business navigates the rest of the pandemic and beyond remember that even though employees may be ‘out of sight’, there is still a real risk conflict can arise and left unresolved workplace conflict can have a serious impact on all of those involved and the wider team including reduced productivity.

For help and support with conflict in your business contact us today.

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