If co-workers' bad attitudes create tension, protect yourself from those office toxins.
Workplace Conflict
Our workplace conflict resolution strategies will show you how to handle employee conflict by suggesting conflict management activities
Conflict management styles vary, but whatever approach you choose in dealing with employee conflict, our advice will help you in conflict resolution in the workplace.
When romance blooms at work, trouble may lurk not far behind. That’s especially true when co-workers fight over the same love interest. A spurned employee may be out to get her rival, leading to all sorts of conflict. Fortunately, this isn’t the sort of thing that employers have to intervene in—as long as there’s no workplace violence.
The co-worker in the next cubicle hums all day. Yesterday your boss dressed you down in front of the entire team. Another admin has been griping about the same issue for a week. In every case, it would be all too easy to ignore the problem, or avoid confrontation by sending an email. But in every case, a live conversation is the better solution.
There are times when a supervisor and a subordinate simply can’t get along. It’s important for HR to distinguish between a personality conflict and discrimination. The former is cause for concern because it is disruptive and counterproductive. But the latter must be dealt with immediately and firmly—because it’s illegal.
Studies show how hesitant people are to challenge offensive or sexist comments. But psychologist Heidi Grant Halvorson says there are at least three good reasons to confront someone making lewd or sexist comments—despite the fear of retaliation:
Conflict happens in all corners of the workplace. But if issues aren't settled, bad things can happen: Good people quit, morale can plummet and, sometimes, violence can erupt. But supervisors and managers don't need to become certified mediators to settle disputes. You just need to understand some basics about human behavior, practice the fine art of paying attention and offer yourself as a neutral party who wants to resolve the problem.
Workplace bullying is an issue that employers should pay attention to—to get ahead of potential legal obligations and mitigate the high business costs of bullying. Some steps employers might consider taking include: Adopt a "no jerks" rule, and adopt and enforce an anti-bullying policy.
At work, numbers speak volumes. If you can’t show, quantitatively, that something is improving, then how can you really know it’s improving? It’s not surprising, then, that more admins are being asked to set SMART goals—specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely goals—to be evaluated against.
Some of us have had that uncomfortable moment with a co-worker—an unwelcome advance, an inappropriate joke, or a colleague who just doesn’t seem to accept your consistent “no’s” to lunch or happy hour invitations. Here are five tips to fend off unwelcome behavior.
When a jaw-droppingly rude email arrives in your inbox, here's how to react: 1. Draft the email you wish you could send. 2. Start with, “Thank you.” 3. Volunteer to get on the phone. 4. Call her out.
