Workplace Conflict Manager’s Toolkit
In any workplace there will be many different experiences and perspectives: we each see the world in a different way. This diversity of experience and thinking is a good thing, but it can sometimes lead to misunderstanding and disputes.
Some workplace conflict can be positive, such as a healthy amount of competition between team members to reach goals. But negative workplace conflict, like bullying or personality clashes, can harm individuals and undermine teamworking.
Workplace conflict between can occur in many different ways. It can occur across a wide spectrum of behaviour, ranging from a personality clash to more serious types of unfair treatment – like bullying and harassment.
As a manager, you need to be at the forefront when workplace conflict occurs between team members. If you don’t tackle this workplace conflict head on at an early stage, it’s likely to escalate.
The HR Employee Relations Team have put together a Manager’s Toolkit to support line managers tackle workplace conflict at an early stage. The toolkit includes a step by step guide, a discussion template and some active listening tips to support you. There is also a Conflict Management Training course run by ACAS available for you to book a place on via MyView.
There are of course situations where you may feel that the conflict has escalated to a level beyond where you feel confident in tackling it and Mediation using a Trained Mediator may be more appropriate. The Mediation Leaflet explains more about what is involved in this. The Employee Relations team are always available for advice on issues of conflict and can be contacted on the Employee Relations Advice Line 01546 605513 (Option 2).
