What happens when you notice gusting winds bringing precipitation?
While hiding out may feel good, ignoring without any preparation may cause devastating consequences.
When storms arise at work, it may also seem safer to hunker down and do nothing. Yet, unresolved misunderstandings and miscommunications often impact morale, productivity, relationships, and a company’s bottom line.
What if you could change or influence the direction of workplace issues? Here’s three ways to de-escalate organizational conflict:
- Be the Sun. Remember, the sun radiates beautiful energy. The sun commits to shine regardless of circumstances, or what else may be happening. This means not letting the other person’s behavior influence how you show up. Be fully present and bring a caring consistency to the moment. Know in advance what energy you will bring and how you will share your light.
- Acknowledge the Clouds and Precipitation. Telling someone to look past the what blocks the sun does not work. The clouds and rain may be all the person can see from their vantage point. Empathy acknowledges whatever someone might be seeing. Acknowledgement does not mean agreeing. This means listening to what is going on for someone and understanding their experience as their truth.
- Uncover the Shelter Space. When a person shows up in a stormy state, they usually do so out of some fear. This stems from believing needs are unmet, or about to be unmet. When feeling afraid, human behavior may not make sense. While their stormy way of requesting help may seem counterintuitive, it helps to dig a little deeper. Ask curious open-ended questions to understand underlying issues and ways to address those. By creating a safe space for expression and exploration of options, you invite more constructive conversations.
Remember, showing up with clarity, compassion, and curiosity may help redirect an organizational storm, or at least reduce the potential impact.
Are you fully prepared to confidently handle personal and professional storms? Contact Sherry today to schedule a conflict resolution skills training designed specifically to meet the needs of your business or organization, or sign up for on-line class.
