Written by: Bridget Richard, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Conflict management is one of those things that are unavoidable. You can try to avoid getting into conflicts, but it is impossible to completely avoid them. Now, when I say "conflict,” I don't mean hand-to-hand combat or getting into a bar fight or anything like that. We experience conflicts on a daily basis, and we need to know how to navigate these uncomfortable situations.
Notice how I mentioned the word "uncomfortable?" I think it is important for people to not only recognize their feelings of being uncomfortable but also how to respond during those times. Time and time again, I see people either rely on their fight or flight instincts to guide them during these situations. With conflict management, you challenge yourself to function and process things in the midst of being uncomfortable.
This is why conflict management is considered a transferrable skill.
You will benefit from using it in both your personal and professional life.
One thing I have seen quite often is employers having to send their employees to a coach or some kind of counselor for conflict management because the employee got into it with a contractor or something. At some point in our careers, we may witness or be involved in a circumstance of conflict. How we respond is important because it may be the defining factor that decides if anger management is needed or worse: parties go their separate ways.
From an employer's standpoint, having a workforce with weak conflict management can be harmful to business. Employees won't know how to deal with times of conflict or confrontations, and if the situation were to escalate, the employer could end up losing the employee or multiple employees. If care isn't taken, the employer could even have to deal with a lawsuit.
Now, work can suck on any given day, but when the environment becomes toxic, that's where problems may occur.
Conflicts are things we experience daily. They may not be to the point where blood is drawn, but they can be challenging to deal with. It is important that employers give employees the proper training and development they need to be able to handle these challenges when they come up. And trust me, they will come up.
Now, some people have the uncanny ability to be able to handle conflict. And when I say handle, I mean all that encompasses it; not just the conflict itself, but the emotions and external factors that go along with that. There are also people who can hide their anxiety and panic very well, and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
But what happens when people don't have any clue, inkling, or a knack for things like this? Those individuals tend to struggle the most. As employers begin to focus on burnout prevention and employee satisfaction, they must also be sure to provide their employees with proper tools and trainings for these other skills. Conflict management is one of those things that requires time, effort, and practice, but if done right, it can make for a better, stronger workforce.
Bridget Richard, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazin
Bridget Richard, MA, LISW-S is a Social Worker and Life Coach with 20+ years of experience in the field of mental health. In her work, she is passionate about helping with women to conquer feelings of anxiety and depression caused by burnout. She helps her clients move from being too frustrated and overwhelmed to enjoy life to focused, empowered, and re-energized. Bridget enjoys bringing her message of self-love and determination to virtual and live venues everywhere. She has been featured in the Women's Journal as a "Person You Want to Know" and regularly contributes to Thrive, Medium, and Brainz Magazine. To learn more about working with Bridget schedule your free discovery call at https://calendly.com/bridgetsrichard/freeconsult.
