If you work a full-time job, then you would be spending most of your time at work, with your colleagues.

 

While you may not acknowledge it, these are the people you interact with the most. However, like all human relations, workplace conflicts are inevitable.

 

Little office debates can arise and conflicting views could easily escalate into embittered arguments. The tension and stress from work do not exactly bring out the best in people. At some point in your career, you’d disagree with a colleague, and conflicts will arise.

 

Instead of ignoring and allow it to snowball into something bigger that may actually threaten your sanity and even your job, you can get atop of the situation and resolve amicably.

 

Here are five ways you can handle and resolve workplace conflicts.

Do not gossip

The urge to tell your work bestie about your recent disagreement with another colleague is almost too strong to resist but, do it. Gossiping about it is not only unfair to the next person as you’re prone to embellish your side of the story, but it may also let the word out quickly and before you can say jack, the story is already making the rounds.

Also, it puts your friend in the uncomfortable position of taking your side while he/she still has to work with the other person. Generally, gossiping makes it worse and can easily amplify the situation so it’s best not to indulge.

 

If you feel the need to let out pent up anger and vent, call a friend who doesn’t work with or your partner and talk it up.

Address the elephant in the room quickly

As soon as you notice the disagreement festering, address it. Don’t wait until you both completely hate each other before trying to resolve the issue at hand.

 

This, however, does not apply to when you both are at loggerheads, and tensions are high because this comes off as confrontational.

 

Instead, wait for the anger to cool off before approaching them to resolve the conflict.

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Do it face to face

Calls, texting, or emailing is a no-no when it comes to addressing conflicts. It’s easy to hide behind your keyboard and fire off texts but this would most likely prove counter-productive as you could both easily misunderstand yourselves. Pick a place, mostly away from the office crowd, and talk it out.

Find a common ground & listen

While resolving workplace conflict, finding a common ground where you both agree is a great way to start. You could open with ” we both want this project to succeed” or “we both want this office to be a great place to work”. This will put things in perspective and define why you both need to resolve them.

 

Also, be patient and listen to the other person.  As Human Resources Consultant Susan Lankton-Rivas told Boston.com, resolving workplace conflict isn’t about getting one person to entirely change their mind. Most times, it’s finding out the why behind your colleague’s actions so that together, you can defuse the growing tension and misunderstanding.

Listen attentively to the points they raise. Also, do not be afraid to ask questions in areas you’re unclear. After all, you’re both there to resolve a conflict.

Keep your cool

When it’s your turn to speak, keep calm as much as possible. This is easier said than done as one word could spark off tempers. Make a mental note to not allow your emotions to get the better off you. When it’s your turn to speak, enunciate your points calmly. Keep in mind that you’re not there to win an argument but to resolve differences amicably.

Know when to escalate

While a good number of workplace conflicts can be resolved by the parties involved, some may require the involvement of a third party. Cases of targeted insults, racial slurs, and degradation or s*xual abuse are one of them. In such cases, you should involve your supervisor or better still, The Human Resources Department. No, you won’t be a snitch or tattletale for doing so. This is why HR is there, to make sure situations as this don’t thrive.

 

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