How to Handle Conflicting Personalities Among Your Staff

Conflicts are one of the issues leaders must learn to handle at work and in the office. The workplace can easily turn into a conflict zone when leaders fail to resolve issues quickly and effectively. If you are not familiar with doing so, it can be a particularly tricky subject. Conflicting personalities are a common occurrence in the world, and in the workplace, it can be a benefit to have a diverse range of personalities. Addressing those conflicts before they become problems is key. Here are some tips to help you handle conflicting personalities in your organization.

Understanding the Source of Conflict

Conflicts stem from one of three things: People, process or problems. Everyone has a different personality type and can benefit from a different approach to handling issues and processes. Understanding the personalities on your team is a clear step in the right direction to help you resolve conflict quickly. Here are a few of the most common types of personality conflicts you will run into in the workplace.

  1. Different Work Styles

People always work in different ways. There are some people who work quickly and others who are more motivated by a deadline. Everyone works in different ways and will focus on what and how they want to work. This can naturally lead to conflict when polarized personalities are made to work together. Keep that in mind when you are building your teams, and address any issues you encounter upfront to avoid frustrations later on.

  1. Differences in Background

There are many differences that stem from individual backgrounds that can have a strong impact on work relationships. These differences can include gender, ethnicity, political views, religion, and so on.  We naturally see life from our own point of view, but an important work skill is the ability to work well with others of a different background than yourself. Encourage conflicting personalities to get to know each other better and find the commonalities that will help you all build a stronger team dynamic.

  1. Attitude Differences

Everybody has a different attitude towards life. Many workers deal with attitudes of arrogance, cynicism, irritability, or the opposite end of the spectrum including optimism and cheerfulness. Negative attitudes tend to bring people down, so be mindful of the attitudes of the people you hire to work together. You will quickly find that toxic people will poison the general morale of the team. For temporary negativity, focus on resolving issues upfront to bring a more positive mindset to the group.

Handling Conflict as a Team

The best way to solve conflict is to work together and address issues upfront. In almost all cases of personality clash, avoidance will prolong and deepen the conflict. The best time to take action is when it first arises. As a leader, you need to seek first to understand and examine the issue at hand and provide solutions and support as necessary. Help employees create the healthy boundaries that will enable them to continue working together effectively in the future. Coach individuals in conflict resolution and help them address issues respectfully before they become conflicts.

Ready for more?

For more advice on helping your team handle conflict personalities at work, connect with the staffing experts at Ag 1 Source today.