One of the most common causes of stress in the workplace is conflict. A study showed that less than 1 in 100 people said that they never handle conflict at work. On the other hand, around 40% of people said that conflict was a frequent part of their workday. So, if you want to make a workplace less stressful, you need to answer the question – ‘How can I deal with a conflict at work?’
Dealing quickly with conflict
One of the most effective ways to resolve workplace conflict is through mediation. It can be organised quickly and is relatively inexpensive.
Mediation is a process where an independent third party facilitates a conversation between the two parties. The discussion aims to find mutually acceptable solutions. There is no apportioning of blame. The mediator asks questions and ensures balance. They do not take sides.
Through the process, the participants will have the opportunity to learn new approaches that can prevent conflict from re-occurring.
Types of problems mediation can help with
Mediation is effective for solving a wide range of issues, including, but not limited to:
- Clashing personalities (this is often down to behaviours)
- Dysfunctional team dynamics
- Communication break downs
- Turf wars
- Some types of bullying and harassment
- Inability to collaborate
Getting help
If you have found yourself asking ‘how can I reduce stress at work’ and it relates to one of the issues above, then you might want to consider mediation as a solution. Concord Conflict Solutions offers independent, experienced workplace mediators to help resolve these issues quickly. From the moment you start the process, you will find that working towards a solution is much less stressful than being mired in conflict with no end in sight.
If you are ready to start finding a solution, contact us today to discuss your situation.
