Conflict Resolution
Resolving conflicts effectively is another important skill to maintain within the employer/employee relationship. Identifying and addressing problems as early as possible will help prevent further problems and will enhance your working relationship.
The following steps and points can be useful in handling potential conflict:
- Tell the other person clearly what you need, want, or feel. Make sure that you are understood by the other person.
- Ask the other person what he or she needs, wants or feels. Make a special effort to understand him/her, repeat what you have heard to ensure that you understood correctly.
- If a conflict arises, discuss it immediately. Don’t sit on it until resentment builds and you blow up. It is easier to deal with minor irritations than a major crisis.
- Set aside a time to discuss and resolve the conflict. Schedule it so that both you and the assistant can calm down and think over the problem.
- First, you should focus on clearly identifying the problem. One way to do this is to have each person write down what he/she feels the problem is. Then, compare notes and look at the similarities and differences.
- Next, each person should be allowed to explain his/her position, thoughts, feelings, etc.
- After each person has a chance to explain, the other person then summarizes the first person’s position. Use listening skills and feedback to reach an understanding.
- Problem solving techniques may be helpful to both in finding a solution to maintain a good working relationship.
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