Managing Interpersonal Conflict at Work

"It is all your fault!"
"She makes me so angry!"
"I can’t work with him anymore!"
"I will never trust this person again!"

Interpersonal conflict at work is inevitable. It is also costly, disruptive and time consuming. What can you do when valuable employees “lock horns” and remain stuck? We can help.

• Conflict Intervention – Provide on-site interventions to help employees rebuild mutual trust and repair damaged work relationships.
• Anger Management – Help individuals manage anger and redirect destructive behaviors into productive actions.
• Training – Conduct workshops that help employees understand the root causes of interpersonal conflict, how to prevent it, and how to effectively manage it when it occurs.
• Consulting - Consult with management to create harmonious and collaborative work environments.
  

COACHING AND COUNSELING INDIVIDUALS
Conflict Intervention When two or more employees are locked in conflict and unable to resolve it on their own, an objective external facilitator is often required to achieve resolution. We help employees who have reached an impasse and need to rebuild their relationship to:

• identify the source of the conflict
• understand the deceptive nature of interpersonal conflict
• abandon “victim vs. villain” thinking
• minimize differences and focus on common ground
• develop a shared vision of a productive working relationship
• rebuild mutual trust to ensure a sustainable positive relationship

Anger Management
An employee who cannot effectively control his/her anger is a liability. Inappropriate displays of anger reduce productivity, lower morale, increase turnover, and can potentially result in litigation. We help anger-prone individuals to:

• understand the psychological and biological nature of anger
• recognize the events and situations that trigger anger
• develop methods to control anger impulses
• develop appropriate and productive responses to replace destructive anger-related behavior
• rebuild relationships that have been damaged by anger-related behavior
  

TRAINING AND CONSULTING

Workshops
We conduct conflict resolution workshops for small and large groups that are informative, multi-disciplinary, fast-paced, and fun. Most important, they help employees avoid potential interpersonal conflict and effectively manage existing conflict. The workshops are modular and can be tailored to fit the needs of your organization. Workshop topics include:

• The Psychological Basis of Interpersonal Conflict
• The Role Self-Esteem Plays in Interpersonal Conflict
• Identifying Your Conflict-Handling Mode
• Avoiding Conflict at Work
• Facilitating Conflict Resolution Between Two Employees
• Effective Conflict Resolution Strategies

Consulting
We also provide consulting services on a number of related issues, including the roles management style and organizational culture play in interpersonal conflict. Conflict is minimized with a collaborative management style and a harmonious organizational culture. Likewise, an overly competitive style or a conflict-avoidant culture can encourage conflict and allow destructive behaviors to thrive. We help management to:

• identify the dominant management style and culture of the organization
• identify the potential for interpersonal conflict among employees
• foster a culture that minimizes non-productive conflict