Conflicts are an inevitable part of any workplace. Research suggests that non-productive conflicts take up around 2.1 hours of employee time on a weekly basis. Moreover, 85% of employees end up dealing with workplace conflicts at some point or the other. This applies to nonprofits too. As a leader, figuring out how you can deal with a conflict to promote better communication and understanding is vital to organizational success. The conflict resolution strategies you apply are vital here. The right strategy automatically improves your chances of achieving an outcome that’s favorable to everyone.
To help you out, here’s a quick rundown of some of the strategies you can apply to resolve conflicts successfully.
1. Focus on Solutions That Last
As a leader, you’ll naturally want to resolve conflicts as quickly as possible. While time is certainly of the essence, focusing on this aspect alone can compromise the effectiveness of a resolution. Things might be looking fine for a moment, but there’s a good chance that the same problem could erupt again in a day or two.
To prevent this from happening, we suggest you thoroughly assess the situation to diagnose the cause of the conflict, who was involved, and any underlying variables that may have contributed to the issue. Doing so can allow you to come up with a more comprehensive solution that makes a difference and stick.
2. Keep a Goal In Mind
When it comes to conflict resolution, it’s important that you also keep a goal in mind. What do you want to achieve when you successfully resolve a situation? Do you simply want to solve the problem at hand? Or are you thinking more long-term?
For example, suppose two of your volunteers get involved in a conflict because they are prone to misunderstanding each other. In this case, they might end up arguing because a piece of equipment malfunctioned. If your goal is to have everyone get back to work, you could simply ask the volunteers to put in a repair request.
However, if you have noticed an undercurrent of tension between these two volunteers, then you could opt for a two-fold solution. One, put in a repair request, and two, address their personal differences to achieve a better level of understanding. This can be time-consuming but may prove more beneficial. It ultimately depends on your goals as a leader.
3. Be Impartial and Listen to Everyone
Effective conflict resolution strategies are rooted in your ability to listen as a leader. You need to be unbiased and take everyone’s view of the incident into account. Some might exaggerate, while others will downplay the situation. It is your job to separate fiction from facts and try to understand what happened.
The more you listen, the easier it will be to come up with a solution that benefits everyone.
In a Nutshell: Focus on Collaboration
Most conflicts are rooted in misunderstandings and displays of dominance. As a leader, you need to work with your volunteers in a way that addresses such issues and encourages collaboration. One particular study suggests that this is among one of the most common conflict resolution strategies employed. It can allow the parties involved to overcome their differences. It also enhances teamwork and helps unlock your team’s creative potential. In the long run, this can be highly beneficial for your organization.
If you are interested in improving your conflict resolution skills or discover your conflict style, reach out to the team at Stratagems. We offer a wide range of leadership solutions for nonprofit leaders and teams to explore. Contact us to learn more!