We all know that when you are working with people you will always have people problems. There is just no getting around it.
If it is not personality issues it may be work styles, general attitudes or beliefs.
We are humans, and we are different from each other, which is a beautiful thing, yet it can be a great division among coworkers.
It is also a big headache to management staff or business owners. When colleagues are not getting along it can cost the company time and money.
There will be people at work who just do not “click” with each other. But what do you do if the situation becomes intolerable for one or more employees? This is especially tricky if all of the employees do good work.
As a manager how do you handle the situation when co-workers collide? Do you have a company protocol drawn up stating how situations of conflict are treated?
If you do not, it is a good thing to think this through and draft one for your employee manual. It will save a lot of time and trouble when these types of situations arise.
You might add the following to your policy:
How to make a complaint regarding a coworker’s behavior.
10 Tips for getting along with your coworker.
What behaviors are not tolerated at work?
When does management intervene in coworker problems?
How to resolve conflict with your coworker.
If employees know what the guidelines are for handling conflict before a situation occurs they will be better prepared to handle it on their own.
It is also a good idea to hold a meeting every year, or when a new employee is hired to go over the employee manual and particular policies, like conflict resolution and allow for a Q&A time, so everyone is on the same page.
As a manager, we are there to make sure that all of the team members work nicely together and get along.
Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
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