Conflict Management Steps In The Workplace
The conflict management steps in the workplace should begin with a triage question that most models leave out. Is this actually a conflict?
Conflict is a disagreement between parties with competing positions, and both sides have something to move on. Several things that arrive looking like conflict are not.
- Bullying. Repeated unreasonable behaviour creating a risk to health and safety. Not a dispute to mediate.
- Discrimination or harassment. Unlawful conduct. Treating it as interpersonal friction is one of the more costly mistakes an employer makes.
- Performance. A management issue, not a two-sided disagreement.
Mediating any of those legitimises the conduct and puts the affected person in a room with someone who has harmed them. Triage first, then choose the process, and record why you chose it in case the matter escalates later.
Safe Work Australia covers the psychosocial duty. This is general information rather than legal advice.
See Sentrient’s conflict resolution course for managers and workplace bullying course.
5 Stages Of Conflict And Workplace Conflict Resolution
Let’s be honest, if you’ve ever worked in an office, on a building site, or even in a remote team scattered across different time zones, you’ve experienced workplace conflict. Maybe it was the colleague who kept ‘borrowing’ your coffee mug, or perhaps it was something more serious, like disagreements over project direction or workload distribution. […]
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