An Hr Guide To Relationships - Going From Workplace Conflict To Cooperation
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An Hr Guide To Relationships - Going From Workplace Conflict To Cooperation
One of the situations that sucks up so much of manager's time is conflict in the workplace. It is relatively common but not normally handled well. The success in dealing with conflict is to find common ground first of all.
By: Peter Mitchell
One of the situations that sucks up so much of manager's time is conflict in the workplace. It is relatively common but not normally handled well. The success in dealing with conflict is to find common ground first of all.
By: Peter Mitchell
Finding common ground is sometimes very difficult when emotions are running high.
When managers learn this skill there is always a dramatic drop in work place conflict.
One of the techniques of finding common ground can be described as "blending." This is the process where you look for similarities. It is an essential communication skill which people do automatically. As soon as you find some similarities with the person you're talking to, that is blending. For example, during a discussion you find that you both grew up in the same area. If you ask your questions carefully and listen to the answers you will find similarities with most people.
Some of the greatest similarities can also be differences. For example, you could have been brought up in India and the other person could have been brought up in England but you are both currently living in Florida. As soon as you discover similarities you are blending and bonding. Once you have done that it is easier to move to common ground to solve the problem.
It's important to remember that you can blend visually with your facial expressions, posture and hand movements. You can blend verbally with your voice volume and speed. And you can blend conceptually with your words.
Whilst it is natural to blend with people you like, it is equally natural not to blend with people you consider difficult. If blending is totally absent then conflict will arise. In human relations there is no middle ground. Consciously or unconsciously people want to know are you on my side or against me?
To achieve co-operation it is necessary to go through the blending process so that you can direct the interaction and change the direction of the discussion to a worthwhile outcome.
Non-verbal blending is quite powerful because people will always believe what you do before they believe what you say. Whenever you communicate successfully with people, you naturally blend with their voice volume and speed. If they speak quickly, so will you. If they speak loudly, so will you. If you fail to blend with the person you are dealing with, you will probably end up talking to yourself, or dealing with a serious misunderstanding.
When managers learn this skill there is always a dramatic drop in work place conflict.
One of the techniques of finding common ground can be described as "blending." This is the process where you look for similarities. It is an essential communication skill which people do automatically. As soon as you find some similarities with the person you're talking to, that is blending. For example, during a discussion you find that you both grew up in the same area. If you ask your questions carefully and listen to the answers you will find similarities with most people.
Some of the greatest similarities can also be differences. For example, you could have been brought up in India and the other person could have been brought up in England but you are both currently living in Florida. As soon as you discover similarities you are blending and bonding. Once you have done that it is easier to move to common ground to solve the problem.
It's important to remember that you can blend visually with your facial expressions, posture and hand movements. You can blend verbally with your voice volume and speed. And you can blend conceptually with your words.
Whilst it is natural to blend with people you like, it is equally natural not to blend with people you consider difficult. If blending is totally absent then conflict will arise. In human relations there is no middle ground. Consciously or unconsciously people want to know are you on my side or against me?
To achieve co-operation it is necessary to go through the blending process so that you can direct the interaction and change the direction of the discussion to a worthwhile outcome.
Non-verbal blending is quite powerful because people will always believe what you do before they believe what you say. Whenever you communicate successfully with people, you naturally blend with their voice volume and speed. If they speak quickly, so will you. If they speak loudly, so will you. If you fail to blend with the person you are dealing with, you will probably end up talking to yourself, or dealing with a serious misunderstanding.
Peter Mitchell is a business consultant who has helped many businesses to lift their labor productivity in the workplace at little or low cost. His practical guide The Key To Productivity should be on every manager's desk and used to install your productivity improvement program. To find out more go to www.thekeytoproductivity.com.
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