Relationships @ work
Developing strong relationships at work has an impact on how much you enjoy your job. You can evaluate how 'good' the relationship is by your amicability, respect for each other, and ability to complete tasks together.
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If you feel like you don't belong in the team, find yourself in frequent conflict with co-workers, or struggle to work effectively with your manager, it can harm your job satisfaction and motivation to engage effectively.
Ultimately, it can hold you back from succeeding in your career.
How do you handle conflict?
While there’s no single root cause of conflict in the workplace, knowing how to handle it is a valuable skill - after all, 50% of Australian workers have experienced one or more serious incidences of conflict at work. But workplace conflict isn't always a bad thing. When you handle it constructively and can have difficult conversations in the office, it can improve the work environment.
Whether you’re trying to mediate between your colleagues or are directly involved, here’s a quick guide to handling workplace conflict:
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Deal with conflict as soon as you can, rather than put it off.
Facing conflict head-on is hard. Leaving tension to fester is worse. Set a meeting and lean into the uncomfortable.
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Determine the type of conflict you're dealing with.
Look for the cause of the conflict and identify if it’s specifically a task, relationship, or value conflict. This step ensures the discussion does not become distracted by irrelevant issues.
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Ask both parties to communicate respectfully and maturely.
Agree that aggressive language, yelling, and other immature behaviors are off-limits. Everyone should make a commitment to be respectful.
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Find common ground between the people engaging in conflict.
The best way to handle workplace conflict is to start with what you can agree on. It can be helpful to focus on results instead of who’s right.
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Listen attentively when people share their side of the story.
Step back and prioritize listening over talking. Ultimately, that will encourage the other person to do the same when it’s your turn to speak.
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Brainstorm possible solutions as a team, not individually.
if you want to achieve a lasting resolution, you’ll need to motivate your team to get involved — if you do this, employees will feel a sense of ownership that can prevent future conflicts.
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Create an action plan, and then act on it.
Just like any other work goal, resolving the conflict requires creating a concrete plan and following through.
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Identify any lessons learned from the conflict.
Self reflect and work with your whole team to gather learnings from the conflict so that you can work to avoid similar situations in the future.
Need support with this?
Book a consult and let's see how we can help you move through it.
How do you set boundaries?
It's a known fact that poor boundaries with work play a big role role in the development of burnout. Weak boundaries also lead to conflict as when our boundaries are crossed or violated it often results in intense negative emotions - anxiety, anger, resentment. However, when employees maintain clear boundaries, and are able to communicate them effectively, they typically enjoy healthy, sustainable relationships with others.
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Here are some simple tips to keep in mind when finding and defining your boundaries:​
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Take time to reflect.
Spend time exploring your limits so you know where they are.
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Notice how you feel when a boundary is broken.
This can help you determine how firm the boundary needs to be.
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Write your boundaries down.
You don't have to show them to anyone, but putting your ideas into words can help you know exactly where your boundaries lie.
Communicate.
If your boundary will have an impact on other people, let them know that it's there. We often neglect to clearly communicate our limits but get upset when someone 'crosses the line'. It's hard to toe a line you can't see...
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Be assertive.
When you've set a boundary, stick to it. If you need to leave work at 5pm, then go at 5pm. Being true to the promises you make for yourself builds self esteem and enables your team to trust you.
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Boundary setting is particularly difficult for some people and not an activity that happens just once in your life - as things flex and change, your boundaries will need adjustment too.