Tips for Dealing With Employees Who Don’t Get Along
When it comes to the workplace, dealing with employee conflict is a sticky situation. As the manager, you’re in charge of your team. At the same time, all involved are adults. So should you step aside and let them handle tension themselves or intervene before it gets out of hand? To help you make the right moves, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Intervene early.
When you intervene in the early stages of employee conflict, you can stop the problem faster and ensure it doesn’t spread to the rest of your team. If you don’t, though, and let the employees handle it, then the situation could turn from a minor problem into a major emergency. The sooner you solve the problem, the sooner your employees will emerge happy and productive.
Find out the source of the tension.
In most circumstances, when employees aren’t getting along, it’s due to a personality conflict. However, it’s important to touch base with both employees to get their sides of the story. Talk too to your other staff members who may be able to give you more objective insight into what’s truly going on. Once you have a grasp on the situation, you can plan the best way to handle it.
Get outside help if you need it.
Sometimes, the problem is so bad and widespread that you need outside assistance. If you suspect this is the case, talk to your HR team or contact an HR consultant for help. An external perspective can help you see challenges and solutions you might not be aware of when you’re enmeshed in the situation.
Follow up with employees.
Once a plan is in action for dealing with the problem, don’t just walk away from it. You need to keep a close on the situation, look for any new symptoms of conflict, and touch base with your employees regularly. In most cases, people are just acting on emotions, and as their boss, it’s your job to keep them on track toward solving the issue and creating a robust and healthy workplace.
Remember, the conflict impacts the whole team.
When two employees are feuding, don’t assume it’s just between them. The conflict is going to infect your whole team and create a toxic environment for everyone who has to work alongside them. The last thing you want is for your staff to feel stressed and uncomfortable just by coming into the office each day. That’s why it’s so essential to deal with it swiftly.
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