Calming conflict
How to deal with disagreements among co-workers
While effective teamwork is important to any business, not everyone will be on the same page 100% of the time. Disagreements, big or small, are inevitable when working with others, but that doesn’t mean your team is doomed. It is possible to work through a dispute and move forward as a team, with better understanding than before.
We asked eight entrepreneurs to share their best approaches for handling disagreements with colleagues. Follow their advice the next time you and your colleagues seem to be butting heads so you can, hopefully, return to a state of cooperative collaboration.
Bring everyone together and nip it in the bud
Saloni Doshi, co-owner and CEO of Eco Enclose, views gossip as a mushroom: It thrives in the dark and shrinks when light is shed on it. To avoid this, it’s important to gather everyone together as quickly as possible (via videoconference, if working at home) to solve the problem before it gets bigger.
“As soon as we hear discontent, we try to bring involved parties together to voice their concerns and come to some understanding,” says Doshi. “These conversations can be incredibly uncomfortable, but ultimately leave us in a much better place over time.”
Assume good intent and have an open mind
Traci Beach, co-founder and CEO of Craft Impact, agrees that the best approach is to bring both parties together to openly discuss the issue. It’s also important not to assume the worst in the other party; instead, approach the situation with an open mind and seek to understand where he or she is coming from.
“Addressing the issue head-on with an eye toward understanding each person’s intent is the first step toward developing a go-forward plan,” Beach says.
Validate the other person’s point of view
As you’re working to understand your colleague’s point of view, it can help to truly listen to what he or she is saying and explore it as a valid possibility.
“Try the ‘yes, and’ approach, which is a great way to get the plugs in an idea instead of just shooting it down,” suggests Nicole Munoz, founder and CEO of Nicole Munoz Consulting, Inc.
Give each other permission to disagree
According to Stanley Meytin, CEO of True Film Production, members of successful teams give each other permission to disagree. This is because they understand that diversity of thought ultimately sparks innovation.
“You won’t look at disagreements as delays or showstoppers if you approach a difference of opinion knowing that a resolution can offer a better solution,” Meytin adds.
Find your common ground
It’s easy to think of yourself as being at complete odds with the other party during a disagreement, says Syed Balkhi, co-founder of WPBeginner. However, this kind of thinking is unproductive; instead, he says, you should look for common interests, regardless of how different your needs seem on the surface.
“When you find out what your interests are, you’re better placed to resolve issues,” adds Balkhi.
Make swift decisions and learn from the situation
Maria Thimothy, consultant for OneIMS, says her team openly communicates disagreements to each other with the intention of resolving them quickly. This helps to create a culture of collaboration.
“We decide on it swiftly because we can all agree not to waste too much time analyzing,” Thimothy explains. “If we cannot agree on something, we make a swift decision to compromise, then consider the outcome later on as a learning opportunity for the team.”
Bring in a third party
Sometimes, a situation is too big for the two individual parties to resolve on their own. If this is the case, Matthew Podolsky, founder of Florida Law Advisers, recommends bringing in a third party to act as a mediator.
“If an employee is tempered or the topic of discussion is very sensitive in nature, bringing in someone from HR or a manager to help mediate the conversation is a good choice,” Podolsky says. “This ensures nothing gets out of hand and the conversation stays on track.”
Focus on the mission
No matter what the topic of disagreement, it’s important to remember that the outcome should be what’s best for the company and team overall.
“Keep the focus on the mission of the company and the common goals as a team," says Ben Walker, founder and CEO of Transcription Outsourcing.