When conflicts escalate, they’ve usually been lingering in the wings for some time. At work, they can hinder productivity and create an unpleasant environment. All great leaders know how to de-escalate conflicts. If you want to maximize your potential, you should, too.
Finding the right way to handle conflicts isn’t always easy. Conflict coaching can help hone those skills to defuse tensions, get everyone on the same page, and charge ahead with success.
One-on-one conflict coaching can open you up to new perspectives and greater insights. It gets you to the root of an issue and helps you cultivate the skills you need. Here’s how it can help you unlock your leadership potential.
Gain Better Understanding of Your Team
The first step is to go all the way to the root of an issue. It is here that you will find the best way to manage the problem. You’ll need to look at the situation from various angles. Putting yourself in others’ shoes is the only way to understand their concerns.
Building Skills to Work Through Any Conflict
Obstacles are a part of life, and conflicts are merely a different type of obstacle. One of the core skills for maximizing leadership potential through conflict resolution is to become an active listener.
Active listening involves hearing more than just the words that come out of someone’s mouth. It requires intently listening to what the other person is saying for their intentions and their feelings. When you engage in active listening, you ask questions and mirror back what the other person says to acknowledge that you hear them.
Another important skill you’ll learn in conflict coaching is negotiating a mutually beneficial outcome. This may involve some give and take for all parties, but the idea is that everyone comes away from it winning. When everyone feels heard and gets an outcome that satisfies them, the conflict is resolved.
Learning to Find Common Ground
Conflict affects all business relationships by creating stress. This can additionally manifest itself in health problems. When you are in a leadership role, it’s important to know what to look for to help the people on your teams.
Every supervisor should learn the skills needed to manage their teams better while boosting the dynamic between other employees. When this kind of tension is weighing on the team, you may notice everyone is less productive. You may also notice more absences as the stress of the conflict may make them physically unwell.
Conflict coaching is a great tool for building the kind of skills a leader possesses. Communication, active listening, negotiation, and mediation are all the hallmarks of a person who can lead a team or an entire organization to greener pastures ahead.
If you’re in a position of leadership and you’re finding it difficult to get through to your team, conflict coaching can greatly benefit you in this role. For those who aim to achieve a leadership position, these skills can serve you well as you move down your career path.