At some point or another, you’re bound to get into an argument with a coworker or another employee at work over something that happened on the job or in the office. However, it’s important to remember that these issues can be resolved without resorting to verbal abuse, personal insults, or even physical altercations that can put your career and reputation in jeopardy. Here are four really bad ways to resolve conflict and why you should never use them at work.
Method #1: The Silent Treatment
If you’re going to go the silent treatment route, make sure that your partner knows how serious you are. They should know that when you give them the silent treatment it’s because this issue is a deal breaker for you and will result in a break up if things don’t change. If they’re not aware of how serious this is, then this method won’t work.
Method #2: Raging & Yelling
The problem with this method is that your anger will never go away. It can lead to long-term anger and resentment. Raging and yelling also make it more difficult for the other person to hear you and be receptive to what you are saying.
Method #3: Not Talking About it
When you don’t address an issue, it can fester and become a bigger problem. Plus, not talking about an issue makes it harder for the person who is upset to know that they’re being heard. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my years of practicing therapy, it’s this: when people are able to talk openly about how they feel without judgment or shame, they experience a sense of empowerment. They also feel less afraid because there’s a sense of safety in being heard and understood by another human being.
Method #4: Finding Faults in Each Other
Find the faults in each other’s argument. This is a ploy that will only make you angrier and more frustrated than before. Plus, it’s never fun to be told that you’re wrong. ~Method #4: Finding Faults in Each Other~This is a ploy that will only make you angrier and more frustrated than before. Plus, it’s never fun to be told that you’re wrong.