Quick tips on effectively managing workplace conflict

Workplace conflict is a natural part of organizational life.  In many cases, conflict is due to miscommunication.  The Wall Street Journal suggests that individuals and organizations should act quickly in addressing the conflict:

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By not responding to inappropriate behavior or communication, you’re reinforcing that behavior. You’re actually telling that person that it is OK to communicate with you in that manner. You should address issues as they happen,” says Beth Sears, president of Workplace Communication.

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In some extreme cases, a third-party consultant may be needed to provide assistance with conflict resolution. In such cases, it is important to follow a best-practice conflict resolution model. By doing so, the consultant can objectively gather the required data to effectively resolve the conflict.

The full article is available at the Wall Street Journal. What are your conflict management strategies?