What You’ll Learn

While some of us enjoy a lively debate with colleagues and others prefer to suppress our feelings over disagreements, we all struggle with conflict at work. Every day we navigate an office full of competing interests, clashing personalities, limited time and resources, and fragile egos. Sure, we share the same goals as our colleagues, but we don’t always agree on how to achieve them. We work differently. We rub each other the wrong way. We jockey for position. But disagreements don’t have to be a source of unhealthy tension. So how can you deal with conflict in a way that is both professional and productive—where it improves both your work and your relationships? This guide lays out a straightforward process for addressing nebulous situations. You start by understanding whether you generally seek or avoid conflict, identifying the most frequent reasons for disagreement, and knowing what approaches work for what scenarios. Then, if you decide to address your situation, you use that information to plan and conduct a productive conversation. Knowing there is a process to follow can make conflict more manageable. This guide will give you the advice you need to:

• Understand the most common sources of conflict
• Explore your options for addressing a disagreement
• Recognize whether you—and your counterpart—typically seek or avoid conflict
• Assess the situation that’s making you feel uncomfortable
• Prepare for and engage in a difficult conversation
• Manage your and your counterpart’s emotions
• Develop a resolution together
• Know when to walk away
• Repair relationships