Emotions are at play in every workplace conflict and crisis. Whatever the apparent source of conflict, there is an underlying emotional disconnect present. So, when dealing with conflicts, and resolving disputes, how wise can it be to keep trying to tip-toe around the elephant? Emotions need to be acknowledged when conflict evolves into dispute, and emotions need to be worked on before conflicts erupt into disputes too.
People are (supposedly) hired because they already have the practical skills needed for their jobs. Yet too many employers continue to focus their training plans on the kind of nuts and bolts skills that employees already have, or can easily acquire. Forgetting that employees that don’t get along with each other also don’t get the job done. If your employees are working against each other, they aren’t really working for you… no matter how “good” those employees may appear to be.
Emotions are never “bad”. Emotions are one of the traits that make us fully human. But emotions run amok lead to chaos and discord, and chaotic discord is seldom a good thing in a workplace.
When faced with emotions in a dispute situation, a mediation for example, it is a mistake to ignore that “elephant”. An elephant in the room should never be ignored. On the other hand, it’s natural to fear train-wreck situations in which everybody in the room gets sucked into the emotional maelstrom, and ends up being crushed by the elephant. So what do we do?
It is important to acknowledge the emotions present. With work, cooperation, and collaboration, it is usually possible to align emotional interests with practical solutions to move forward. Managers and supervisors need to learn when and how to acknowledge emotions in the workplace. Every worker needs to the tools to boost their workplace EQ. Investments in emotional intelligence will always pay off.
Learn more, or contact Allan Revich at WorkitOutMediation.com