Conflicts can arise any time at our workplaces and in our lives. Sometimes, it’s not that important to immediately address them and we can take our time to cool off and think about things. However, at other times we don’t have the luxury to wait. There are some steps you can take to handle conflict when the stakes are high.
At HiCounselor, we want to help you manage your professional lives without any hiccups. To that end, we’ve created this short guide on tips to handle conflict when the stakes are high. If you need help finding the right job, contact us and one of our friendly experts will be glad to guide you.
Stay Calm
This is the most important step in resolving conflicts when the stakes are high. If you lose your cool, things are only going to get worse. Even if the situation seems to be tough or the people are being reactive and confrontational, stay calm. Ignore the urge to scream, get defensive, or roll your eyes. You can count to ten or simply walk away for a bit if you need to calm down.
Work Fast
If you want to handle a conflict when the stakes are high, you can’t afford to dilly dally. You can take a short break to calm down and strategize. However, be mindful that delicate situations can lead to hurt egos and emotions. Once people convince themselves that a situation is bad for them, it’s hard to talk them out of it. Don’t give the other person(s) too much time to brood.
Find Common Ground
Most negative situations can be turned around when both parties realize the similarities between them. This is because humans tend to like those who are like them. Finding common ground is a good tactic to handle conflicts when the stakes are high because it serves as a reminder about why both parties are working together to begin with. Bring that common vision back into focus.
No Right, No Wrong
When we try to prove ourselves right, we automatically try to prove the other party wrong. Avoid this when you’re trying to resolve a conflict when the stakes are high. Another reason to avoid proving who’s right and who’s wrong is because that only serves to entrench us in our positions. If you want to end the conflict, there must be willingness to budge from what was said and done.
Validate Feelings & Opinions
Sometimes, the kindest thing to do while trying to handle a conflict when the stakes are high is to acknowledge the other party’s feelings. You can show empathy by stating you can see how something might have made them think or feel the way they do. This can help the other party relax and relate more to you. It’s another way of showing you have common ground between you.
Change Perspectives
If you want to handle a conflict when the stakes are high, be prepared to approach the problem differently. Try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes to see where they’re coming from. If we are to overcome differences, we should be able to first see and understand those differences. Being open-minded will go a long way in helping you become the sort of person who ends conflicts.
Assign Accountability
When trying to resolve a conflict when the stakes are high, it’s important that everyone understands their role in the situation. People often try blame-games or scapegoating, but those are poor ways to fix things. Only by understanding where things went wrong can we avoid making the same mistakes in the future. You can gently but firmly ask people to see what they did wrong and be accountable for it.
Have a Plan B
Despite all your good intentions, you might not be able to resolve this conflict where the stakes are high. If others don’t work with you to fix things, you should have some idea of how you can still move on from this. Approach the situation with confidence and willingness to work it out but show neither desperation nor servility. Even before you start the conflict resolution, have a Plan B just in case.
We hope this list helps you handle conflict when the stakes are high! Keep in mind that conflicts are a part of life and work life, so it’s nothing to get terribly upset about. There’s usually a way to move past the conflict as long as everyone is willing to work together. Just hope for the best and be prepared for the worst when it comes to resolving conflicts when the stakes are high.
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