Conflict management in the workplace: How can businesses create a good working environment?
In the Nordic region, we have been good at developing the working environment and adapting it to the developments taking place in society. Now that the pace of change is faster than before, it's even more important to remember what really matters to achieve a good working environment. Prioritizing conflict management in the workplace can be the solution.
Annar Aasheim
Speaker and process consultant at Kompetanseunionen AS
If we ask people today about what they associate with a good working environment, few would cite private health insurance or exercise during working hours as crucial. On the other hand, surveys have revealed that employees often emphasize belonging, trust and feedback. Many managers want to encourage conversations around these factors, but in the hectic pace of everyday life, it is often difficult to find time for reflection. Research shows unequivocally that good relationships and psychological safety are highly profitable. The quickest way to achieve a good bottom line is to go the human route. But how do we become better at meeting the demands of a good working environment? How can we achieve a good working environment in practice?
Conflict management in the workplace
The simple answer to the above question is to reduce the number of relationship conflicts. Rarely have relationship conflicts shouted louder than they do today. Unprocessed and unresolved painful experiences create:
- painful feelings
- drains us of energy
- reduces efficiency
- blocks communication
- sabotaging collaboration
- creates resignation and apathy instead of engagement and optimism.
Read also: How to manage conflict in the workplace
Our emotions always have the right of way
Managing conflict in the workplace starts with emotions. Our emotions are unique and important sources of information for our conversations and relationships with others. Emotions tell us how we feel and what needs we have met or are unmet. The most basic thing for all of us is to be accepted. And who is the most important and difficult person to gain acceptance from? Well, it's ourselves!
You can have good self-esteem because you are professionally skilled, have good looks, good grades at school, a nice house, a great car and successful children. But that doesn't mean you have good self-esteem. So you can have good self-esteem and look successful on the outside, but still struggle with very low self-esteem on the inside.
Self-esteem, our most central and sensitive element, is developed within us and describes our ability to receive and process impulses from the world around us. A lack of focus on self-esteem may explain the ever-increasing number of relationship conflicts in today's society.
In order to understand other people's feelings and resolve conflicts, we should practice identifying our own feelings and expressing them in an empowered way, i.e. with the help of self-esteem. The knowledge of empowerment will make us more curious about other people's needs. Behind everything we do, there is a good intention. It's about understanding how others think - being open to, and respecting, the opinions and feelings of others. And of course all people, regardless of age, gender, religion and nationality.
We can remember that nothing is as easy to hurt as self-esteem. But nothing is as easy to stimulate as it. When we have good self-esteem, i.e. are empowered, there are fewer things that stress and irritate us. We send out completely different signals to the people around us and therefore receive feedback that pleases us. It becomes a positive spiral that makes us feel worthy as a human being. We feel seen and heard! The foundation for a good working environment characterized by commitment, pride and self-discipline has been laid.
Read on: 15:3 conversation: For ongoing dialog between manager and employee
