3 Ways to Resolve Conflict at Work

If you encounter conflict at work, that is perfectly normal. This is because you and your coworkers come from different backgrounds, such as family, education, experience, economic status, and even achievements. All of these differences can create different ways of seeing things in the workplace, whatever your profession may be. As a result, conflict is unavoidable.

Conflict can appear in many forms. From differences of opinion or taste, small disputes within a team, to major arguments in work meetings. However, one thing is certain: if it is not handled well, it can disturb your heart and hinder your performance.

That is why resolving conflict is one of the important non-academic skills everyone should have. 

How Do You Resolve Conflict at Work? 

1. Be Humble Enough to Listen

The first step to resolving any problem is to have an attitude of humility. Without humility, conflict will only grow hotter and bigger. It is this humility that will help you open yourself up, be willing to listen, and understand your colleagues. 

Often, the cause of conflict is our own selfishness. We do not want to hear other people's opinions. We feel that our thinking is the most correct. The thoughts and feelings of others no longer matter to us. 

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and also slow to become angry. – James 1:19

If there is conflict with a coworker, it is very good if you humble yourself and try to listen. For example, if there is a difference of opinion, try to understand your colleague's perspective and see the issue from another angle.

We have a God who is so humble. It is only right that we follow in His footsteps. God's Word says that we need to pay attention to the interests of others too, not only to our own interests (Philippians 2:4). 

Healthy communication is the best way to ease conflict. To reach that point, listening is an important first step. If everyone competes to speak, then who will listen? How can mutual understanding arise?

After understanding what your coworker says, try to express what you think or feel. However, do not do it with anger in your emotions. Say what you feel, your thoughts, or your ideas with love. 

2. Resolve the Conflict

Not only listening, reconciliation is also important to ease conflict. Why is reconciliation needed? So that a good relationshipcan be restored, so that the work atmosphere becomes pleasant again. And certainly, so that there is a way forward that can be agreed on together, one that does not harm the company or one another. 

To reach that reconciliation, start with a one-on-one conversation. That means, first resolve your problem personally, without involving a third party. A third party may be needed if a personal conversation does not produce results. 

As it is said in Matthew 18:15, ”If your brother sins, go and point out his fault when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have won him back.” Through an approach like this, you and your colleague can resolve conflict in a good and right way, namely according to God's Word. 

The thing that happens most often is that conflict is not resolved. It is not discussed, reconciliation is not pursued. Conflict is left alone so that seeds of hatred grow freely. When another problem happens again, feelings of annoyance or anger pile up even more. No wonder the regular menu at lunch hour is gossiping about the faults of or dislike toward coworkers or superiors. 

However, that is not what God wants.  Conflict is a normal thing. Resolve it! Running away from conflict can steal your joy It can even make you or your coworker resign from that office. Does moving to another office guarantee that you will be free from conflict? If you do not grow in this area, wherever you go, you will still face the same thing, until you “move up to the next level.”

If a one-on-one conversation does not produce results, you can invite a neutral third party to help resolve your conflict (Matthew 18:16). Perhaps the real issue is much deeper than it appears. Whatever way you resolve it, the most important thing is that you resolve conflict in a good and right way. 

3. Look for the Solution

After reaching reconciliation, and knowing the real point of the problem, the next step is to look for a solution or a win-win solution, namely by making an agreement approved together. Also discuss what needs to be done if the same conflict happens again in the future. 

Why look for a solution? Because if we keep focusing on the problem, keep accusing one another, or blaming each other, the conflict will only grow bigger and never end. Is not what we want a better relationship with our fellow coworkers? And of course also a middle ground so that work for each person can run well again.

Paul and Barnabas also once had a sharp disagreement because of a difference of opinion (Acts 15:35-40). Barnabas wanted to take John, who was also called Mark, in the mission ministry. But Paul refused. He did not want to take someone who had left them in Pamphylia and had not continued to work with them. In the end they parted ways. Paul chose Silas. Meanwhile, Barnabas took Mark in ministry to Cyprus. 

The solution they finally took was to separate in their missionary journey. However, they still continued serving God with different partners and travel routes. 

Focus on the solution, not on the arguments, differences, or disputes that exist. Look for the best way. In the end, this is all about collective success, not individual victory.

For many reasons, conflict and problems are unavoidable in the work environment. This is why the ability to resolve conflict is so important. If you are able to handle every problem properly, many benefits can be gained. Your relationships with colleagues grow stronger, you gain fresh perspectives in seeing problems, and your ability to discuss and solve problems becomes more sharpened.

Do not be afraid of conflict. But do not become someone who also goes looking for conflict with others. To be able to resolve conflict, we need an attitude of humility. One of them is being humble enough to listen to others. Then, resolve it well and look for the solution. 

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone! – Romans 12:18

-  Related Articles:

• Silence Is Not Always Golden: When We Are Reluctant to Resolve Conflict
• Not in the Mood to Work? Here Is the Solution
• Having a Hard Time Gaining Trust at Work? Do These Two Things
• Do You Like to Put Off Work? Overcome It with These 4 Tips!
• Humility: Do You Reflect the Image of God?

-