MSWGuide.org

Menu ☰
  • Home
  • Schools By State
    • All-Star Rankings: MSW Programs
    • Advanced Standing MSW Programs
    • Clinical MSW Programs
    • Online MSW Programs
    • Master of Science in Social Administration
    • Researching & Applying to MSW Programs
    • MSW vs MSSW | What’s The Difference?
  • Field Education
  • Careers
    • Online Therapy Platforms: They are Not All the Same
    • Social Work Career Insight from Janina Kwilos, MSW, LCSW
    • Child and Family Social Work
    • Criminal Justice Social Work
    • Medical Social Work
    • Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Work
    • Military Social Work
    • School Social Work
  • Licensure By State
    • Study Tips for the Social Work Licensing Exam
  • Blog
You are here: Home / Managing Conflict in the Workplace

Managing Conflict in the Workplace

By: Jane E. Shersher, LSW & Founder Counselors Autonomous

Sponsored School(s)
Featured Programs:
  • University of Kentucky offers its Online Master of Social Work: Advanced Standing Program available. MSW program includes options for an advanced-standing program (30 credits) and a 60-credit regular standing program. Visit School's Website
  • Arizona State University offers the respected CSWE-accredited Master of Social Work online. ASU Online knows today’s MSW students need remote learning options with no compromises. That’s why you’ll find the same professors, field work requirements, and internship placement assistance that ASU provides on campus. Visit School's Website
  • Baylor University Master of Social Work - Bachelor's holders can prepare for social work licensure with Baylor's CSWE-accredited MSW program online. Complete in as few as 12-16 months. No GRE required. Visit School's Website
  • Fordham's top-ranked Graduate School of Social Service Online Master of Social Work - Top-25 ranked online MSW offers both Traditional and Advanced standing programs. Both CSWE-accredited programs allow you to earn your degree full-time or part-time. Visit School's Website
  • USC University of Southern California Online MSW - With options for both online and in-person field placement, USC's CSWE-accredited MSW program allows those with a BSW to earn their degree in as few as 12 months. Visit School's Website
  • Capella University's CSWE accredited online Master of Social Work program helps prepare students to enter the general or clinical practice role. An Advanced Standing MSW option is available. Capella also offers an online Doctor of Social Work. Click Here to contact Capella University about their Master of Social Work program or Doctor of Social Work program.
  • Our Lady of the Lake University offers its Online BSW and MSW: No GRE or GMAT is required for admission. Advanced Standing available. Visit School's Website
  • Ohio University - America’s most vulnerable citizens lack equitable access to critical social services. But with an online Master of Social Work, you’ll help implement meaningful solutions that deliver care to underserved communities in both rural areas and big cities. Visit School's Website

How to Manage Conflict in the Workplace

A variety of conflict often arises when people work together on a project, but conflict does not necessarily have to be a bad thing. Sometimes conflict brings about positive reform as incongruities highlight better ways of achieving results. Working through the process of clashing opinions presents opportunities ripe with building relationships, learning different and potentially useful perspectives, and securing more effective ways of completing tasks.

The challenge of navigating conflict at work is a real and tricky obstacle, but here are some tips that can empower you and your coworkers the next time you face this challenge head on.

1. Communication

The most important piece of conflict resolution and prevention involves effective communication. If you tend to keep your feelings bottled up, odds are this is the area that needs the most TLC for you. Opening up can help your co-workers to relate to you and to understand your needs or anticipate your preferences. If you’re clenching your thoughts of anger, betrayal, or frustration, relax- you’re about to process that stuff so it doesn’t have to fester inside your brain and body. Effective communication is not just limited to face-face direct interaction. Many people avoid expressing their thoughts because they dread direct confrontation. There are however a variety of ways to express your needs without being confrontational or passive aggressive. Sending a clarifying email, asking a coworker or supervisor for advice, checking in with a trusted friend or significant other before bringing your concerns to the workplace, or redirecting the flow of an uncomfortable conversation toward a more productive direction can be helpful. Be positive: keep in mind that each time you clarify disappointment as miscommunication, you are opening up a space for constructive dialogue within your workplace and encouraging the promotion of a work environment where open, fair, and thoughtful communication is valued. Straightforward and patient communication is bound to facilitate a happier and healthier office space. Utilize your good relationships and express yourself whenever you can at work in a positive and constructive way.

FIND SCHOOLS
Sponsored Content

2. Take a step back

Taking a step back doesn’t involve just cooling down before confronting the offending party, although a calm mind during confrontation is crucial too. Investigating alternate perspectives is an important part of positive and productive communication. Questioning whether your perspective of the conflict is universal or whether in fact your coworker may be seeing things differently than how you see the situation will help you to cool off some steam and approach the dilemma from a more patient place. Ask yourself: are there other factors of the situation that I am not taking into consideration? Is my co-worker facing unrelated factors in his/her day that are causing agitation such as family stressors or a health concern? Maybe their agitation has nothing to do with me and I could offer to help them to ease their day rather than taking things personally.

3. When is it time to take it to the next level?

No one wants to be a tattletale, but when something is negatively effecting not only your work but your work environment as a whole, sometimes it is time to escalate the issue up the chain of command. Before going to your superior or HR representative, ask yourself the following questions:
–          Have I had a one-on-one conversation or email exchange with the person and accurately communicated my feelings and/or concerns?
–          Is this conflict going to negatively effect either of us or other members of the work environment? And if so is it worth seeking intervention for my current issue?
–          Have I stepped outside of my shoes and tried to see things from the other person’s perspective yet?
–          Have I heard my offender’s side of the story and have I done all in my power to make changes to avoid future conflict?

4. Remember yourself

It is important to remember that at the end of the day, we are all still human, working for something we care about, and trying to make a living. Remember that you’re doing the best that you can and that conflict is not only inevitable, it’s a constant learning process. The world is a large place filled with many different kinds of people, and conflict is how we learn and grow. If conflict starts to seriously affect your mood and work ability, reward yourself every day that you make it through the conflict- whether it be by sleeping in an extra five minutes, bringing a healthy dessert for lunch, or making a lunch date with a friend to add a little spark to your day. Be patient with yourself and with the process of creating constructive and productive peace and progress at work.

FIND SCHOOLS
Sponsored Content

FIND SCHOOLS
1
2
3
4
Sponsored Content

Best of the Blog

Realistic Workouts & Stretches for Busy Students & Professionals

By: Jane Shersher, LSW & Founder of Counselors Autonomous, A Program within Ava Today Quick … read more

Sleep Hygiene | The Irregular Schedule of a Student

By: Jane Shersher, LSW & Founder of Ava Today Sleep Hygiene Sleep is not just about … read more

Saving Time and Being Productive Throughout Your Day

By: Jane Shersher, LSW & Founder of Ava Today Tips on How to Save Time Throughout Your … read more

Program Directory

  • MSW Programs in Alabama
  • MSW Programs in Alaska
  • MSW Programs in Arizona
  • MSW Programs in Arkansas
  • MSW Programs in California
  • MSW Programs in Colorado
  • MSW Programs in Connecticut
  • MSW Programs in Delaware
  • MSW Programs in Florida
  • MSW Programs in Georgia
  • MSW Programs in Hawaii
  • MSW Programs in Idaho
  • MSW Programs in Illinois
  • MSW Programs in Indiana
  • MSW Programs in Iowa
  • MSW Programs in Kansas
  • MSW Programs in Kentucky
  • MSW Programs in Louisiana
  • MSW Programs in Maine
  • MSW Programs in Maryland
  • MSW Programs in Massachusetts
  • MSW Programs in Michigan
  • MSW Programs in Minnesota
  • MSW Programs in Mississippi
  • MSW Programs in Missouri
  • MSW Programs in Montana
  • MSW Programs in Nebraska
  • MSW Programs in Nevada
  • MSW Programs in New Hampshire
  • MSW Programs in New Jersey
  • MSW Programs in New Mexico
  • MSW Programs in New York
  • MSW Programs in North Carolina
  • MSW Programs in North Dakota
  • MSW Programs in Ohio
  • MSW Programs in Oklahoma
  • MSW Programs in Oregon
  • MSW Programs in Pennsylvania
  • MSW Programs in Rhode Island
  • MSW Programs in South Carolina
  • MSW Programs in South Dakota
  • MSW Programs in Tennessee
  • MSW Programs in Texas
  • MSW Programs in Utah
  • MSW Programs in Vermont
  • MSW Programs in Virginia
  • MSW Programs in Washington
  • MSW Programs in Washington, D.C.
  • MSW Programs in West Virginia
  • MSW Programs in Wisconsin
  • MSW Programs in Wyoming
Our site does not feature every educational option available on the market. We encourage you to perform your own independent research before making any education decisions. Many listings are from partners who compensate us, which may influence which programs we write about. Learn more about us

Copyright © 2013-2023 · MSWGuide.org · About Us · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use