Successful conflict resolution at work requires groundwork and expertise. Establishing goals, contingency planning, and good listening skills help solve workplace conflicts in a timely and effective manner. Before entering a negotiation or resolving a conflict at work, there are a few things to bear in mind. Analyse the past relationship, identify the expected outcome, and recognise the potential consequences of winning and losing. This way, it’s easier to find solutions and compromises that will benefit all parties Benefits of negotiation Experience of negotiation helps develop the right skills for managing conflict situations, including goal setting and mediating opposing parties. Once able to manage conflicts in a constructive manner, you can minimise and even prevent confrontation from reoccurring. The more negotiation is mastered with the help of experts like The Gap Partnership, the more you can resolve differences through cooperation and team-building exercises. This method has proved to be valuable to many companies. Create win-win scenarios A win-win scenario occurs when both parties in a deal gain something that’s beneficial to them. Such an outcome is possible in most cases but not all. Maximise your chances by establishing common goals so both parties can leave with something beneficial to them. Using anger in a constructive manner Learning to negotiate through specialised training and courses can minimise confrontation and resolve conflict at work. If conflict does arise and discussions become heated, using that anger in a constructive way can help analyse any personal biases, so decisions can be made more fairly. Problems must be dealt with before further confrontation emerges, so that negotiation can progress. Plan and prepare for all situations Before entering a negotiation and beginning the process of reaching a deal, it’s important to have a best alternative in mind. This is a contingency plan to fall back on should the negotiation not produce an agreement. If the negotiation has reached a stalemate, it’s vital to identify what’s worth trading as part of any deal, in return for receiving something of value back.
