The importance of successful conflict resolution

• Conflict resolution can be seen as the civil way in which mature people make compromises and trade things of value.
• Conflict resolution
  
  • reduces stress
  • saves time
  • reduces unnecessary hassles
  • increases productivity at work
  • minimizes negative feelings
  • strengthens communication and improves relationships among colleagues

• You are more likely to win respect from your colleagues when you give them due respect
• You can never be too polite

• Dont take anything for granted

• Focus on objective facts
• Avoid gossips and personal attacks

• Speak calmly, politely and rationally
• Avoid expressing hostility in your posture, facial expression or tone
• Be assertive without being aggressive

• Express clearly what you want and offer constructive suggestions
• Good communication minimizes misunderstandings

• Your colleagues are more likely to listen to your ideas if you are seen to be fair

• Make your feelings known. It is usually better to air grievances than to let them pile up
• It helps clarify misunderstandings

• Say "no" and point out your difficulties early if you have to
• Failure to do so may mean you end up getting blamed for "not saying it earlier"

• Speak to your supervisor if a problem with any colleague seriously threatens your work

• Conflicts and stress are closely related
• Stress at work can make us more irritable and lead to conflicts among colleagues
• Successfully dealing with stress effectively can thus help prevent conflicts

• Stay cool when being criticized
• Remember that it is your work which is being criticized. Your critic may be trying to help you make improvements rather than trying to make you feel bad

• Listen carefully: What is your colleague trying to say? Be sure you understand his/her position
• Express interest in what your colleague is saying. Reinforce that impression with body language, like leaning forward, nodding your head and summarizing or paraphrasing what you have heard, for example "As I see it, you are saying"

• You can make others know that you understand his/her ideas or feelings without necessarily agreeing, for example, by saying, "I understand that you feel this way. Here's how I feel.."

• Try to look at things from your colleagues perspectives. That may help you understand the difficulties your colleague faces

• Make allowances for other peoples opinions and be prepared to make necessary compromises

• When there are people, there are conflicts
• Accept and face the situation with a positive mind and attitude

• Dont just focus on the negative things at work
• Dont let negative happenings occupy all your thoughts or dictate your mood
• Life is too short to spend most of your waking hours feeling miserable in a job
• Think about other positive or happy aspects of work - for example, the pay day

• Healthy lifestyle helps keep us in good physical and mental health
• A healthier body and mind can withstand better the negative impact of unpleasant life happenings

• Try to understand what motivates their behaviour
• You may be able to communicate and work with them more effectively once you grasp why people behave as they do

• Be firm and forceful in expressing your opinions
• Take a firm stand and don't allow them to pressure you into doing anything unwanted
• Act with a bit of caution

• Avoid acting too sympathetic if you feel their complaints are ill-founded
• Be direct and squarely ask them what they want
• Ask how they plan to change the situation