Grievances in the Work Team: How to Resolve the Conflict?

Personal conflicts in the workplace create problems in the work process, the atmosphere in the team heats up and becomes extremely tense. Let's say you think that a colleague is offended by you. This may be true, or perhaps it just seems to you, but in any case, the situation must be resolved, and with maximum diplomacy and tact.

Look for a motive

If it seems to you that a colleague is offended by you, then first of all try to understand the motives of his offense. Often, resentments in the team arise due to the fact that you received a promotion and now take the place for which your colleague also applied, although, probably, you made an innocent, as it seemed to you, joke about him, but for him it was offensive. Put yourself in the shoes of your colleague and reflect on what might be causing the resentment.

Speak frankly

If you find some reasons that could cause resentment in your colleague, then it is best to talk to him cleanly. Diplomatically try to find out if your guesses are true, try to somehow settle the situation. It might be worth apologizing for something (if, for example, it was an awkward joke). After such a conversation, the relationship may improve, or it may worsen. In any case, it will be useful in bringing the problem to the surface.

Don't add fuel to the fire

Avoid behaviors that will further fuel resentment in your coworker. Perhaps the reason for his frustration was not your promotion, but the fact that you then bragged about it for a long time. If you think that this is the motive, then you should not now start to apologize for your promotion and say something like: "I really am not worthy of this position … it just happened …" and so on. You will insist on this, and soon the colleague will agree with you, and his resentment will only increase, supported by your words about the unfairness of the situation.

Show kindness

One simple and effective way to defuse tension is to be kind to an offended coworker. It is difficult to be offended by someone who helps you in every possible way and treats you with soul. So try to be friendly, of course, this is easier said than done. However, a colleague may suspect you of insincerity, and his resentment will increase again.

Try to understand him, take his place. If you think more deeply about the reasons for his resentment and reflect on how you would behave in his place, then perhaps an idea will come to your mind about how to behave in order to defuse the situation and thereby improve the climate in the team.