Mastering Conflict Resolution: Essential Skills For Leaders

Guiding and managing people is a challenging task. Not everyone can be a leader since it demands a lot of patience, resilience, and hard work. Additionally, things start becoming harder when the number of employees increases.

Therefore, now as a leader, you are supposed to learn and acquire conflict-resolution skills. The skills will ensure that your employees stay in peace and, most importantly, your business will run smoothly even if you are broke.

Continue reading this article to learn more about the essential skills for mastering conflict resolution.

What Is Conflict?

Simply, conflict is a disagreement between two people or organizations over beliefs, values, or resources. Therefore, it can be between countries, communities, and people. 

Additionally, conflict manifests itself in various ways, such as physical abuse, verbal abuse, and even through war. They can also be as a result of many things. For example, power struggles within a country can cause conflict between the two vying contestants and their followers. In addition, people can cause conflict in the office because of miscommunication among people with different personalities and opinions. 

Finally, conflict is a part of life, so it is essential to take conflict resolution training, especially if you are a leader. This training includes tips on effectively communicating with your co-workers and even bosses. Various sites that offer classes on conflict resolution training have; Conflict resolution classes, which take 4 to 52 hours of class a week. 

Conflict Resolution Skills Every Leader Should Have

As a leader, you first ensure that everyone under you is peaceful and communicating effectively. This can be done by having conflict resolution skills such as effective listening and communication skills. Below are other conflict resolution skills you must have while navigating life.

1. Using Humor When Appropriate
   

One significant way to ease conflict around the office, especially between employees, is by using appropriate humor to eliminate the tension and lighten the mood in the workplace. 

In addition, using appropriate humor to settle a conflict among co-workers is an excellent way to create a positive environment for all the other workers.

Similarly, you should be wary when using humor as a means of conflict resolution. Always ensure your humor is appropriate for everyone, as inappropriate jokes could cause more harm than good.

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2. Practice Active Listening

Another way in which you can help solve a conflict is through active listening. This form of conflict resolution involves actively listening to the parties in conflict to better understand the situation.

According to studies, active listening is one of the most effective ways to deal with conflict, as both parties get to explain their perspectives and views. Therefore, increasing understanding between the parties involved makes it easier to resolve the dispute and make peace.

3. Teaching Employees How To Solve Problems 

If you are an employer, teaching your employees to solve their problems in your absence is crucial for your business and peace among them. Thus, you can implement this strategy by fostering a collaborative culture among them. You can assign group projects and involve them in team-building activities.

What’s more, you could offer them training and resources on handling conflict among themselves. This could be in the form of books, videos, and articles they could read during their free time. 

Overall, leading by example is the ultimate way to teach your employees to solve problems when you are not around. Thus, solving conflicts on the right track is helpful when you are with them.

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4. Solicit Solutions
   
5. Soliciting solutions is one of the most effective ways to handle conflict between two parties. You use the parties’ suggestions and opinions to solve a conflict. 

This is a practical way to ensure that the final judgment is fair since the conflicting parties each include a potential solution to the problem.

Moreover, soliciting solutions helps promote collaboration among the disagreeing parties since they will now work in harmony to provide answers to resolve the conflict. 

However, suppose you have chosen to solicit solutions to resolve disputes. In that case, you should be ready to listen to both parties and even implement their suggestions when resolving conflict.

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Wrapping Up

Conflict resolution is not a walk in the park, especially in the workplace, as the business might bring losses due to a lack of collaboration among your employees. Therefore, the best way to ensure the company runs smoothly is to provide your employees with materials to help them coexist harmoniously. 

Additionally, you could devise a fun way, such as using appropriate humor to solve conflicts. Using this method provides a playful yet hilarious manner to solve conflicts with each other. As a result, it would be best to be updated with specific regulations concerning various types of conflicts before looking for end-results.