Many of us spend most of our days at work, sometimes we spend more time with our co-workers then we do with friends and family. This means that we can find the best of friends at work, but this also means that we may find ourselves arguing and getting into conflicts with our co-workers and we often take this conflict home with us.
It is important to know how to handle these conflicts so that we can resolve them quickly and without saying things we will regret and have relationships that are beyond repair.
No Gossiping
Taking your office gossip home is a definite no, but gossiping at work is even worse. Remember that walls have ears and it would be terrible for another colleague to hear you bad mouthing another colleague. It is also not fair to speak about the person you are having a conflict with, because we need to keep unity in the work place and who wants to be known by all as the office gossip.
Talking after a hard day at work is good, so rather do that when you get home and do so without trashing your colleague, or, if you need a release, enjoy some online betting to get your mind off things.
Do Not Wait Too Long
If the conflict has been going on for a while do not wait until things get so bad that things are hostile. Address the source of the conflict early and this will hopefully prevent things from getting much worse and this is especially true if the problem is just a simple misunderstanding or the issue is small.
If the argument is sudden it is best to first calm down and then have a conversation to try and sort it out. Forcing a confrontation is never a good idea and this does not only apply to the workplace.
Talk Face-To-Face
The problem should not be left too long without trying to resolve it, you should schedule a meeting and it should be face-to-face. It may seem so much easier to email especially if you feel embarrassed or ashamed.
This is not the way to resolve conflict and can often make things worse as an email may not convey exactly what you want to say and there may be misunderstandings especially if you are both defensive.
Remain Calm
Try not to jump into your grievances when you meet but rather try and find common ground, something that you both agree on. Try to see the big picture, remember that you are a team and you are working towards a common goal and even though you may not get along all the time, you have to work together for the project to be a success.
Controlling your temper is of paramount importance if you wish to sort out your conflict. Getting upset will probably escalate the problem and make things worse.
Try to be level-headed while explaining your side of the story and try to remain calm. If you are prone to being emotional write down your main points and stick to them. Even if your colleague is unreasonable try to be professional and do not sink down to their level.