Category Archives: Managing difficult conversations

Work communication is not always easy. Difficult people and difficult subjects both require extra sensitivity and special handling. The articles in this section will help you improve your relationships with difficult people and demonstrate empathy when delivering bad news.

8 Skills for Mastering Conflict Resolution

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Anna has always been a competent and conscientious employee, but she couldn’t figure out how to really shine as a leader. Her mentor suggested she evaluate what skills her office needed most and work to fill the gap. Anna realized that office conflicts were wasting valuable time and energy. Coworkers were avoiding conflict at all costs until it came to a head, and several of her coworkers had left the company because of the negative atmosphere. By honing her conflict resolution skills, Anna knew she could really get noticed.

Conflict resolution is an invaluable skill that will make you shine as an employee, because few people do it really well. Helping conflicts to happen in healthy ways will boost ingenuity, foster harmonious relationships, and increase job satisfaction. Whether you’re mediating conflicts for others or resolving a conflict with a coworker or … Continue reading 8 Skills for Mastering Conflict Resolution →

10 Ways to Resolve Workplace Conflict

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“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph”

~ Thomas Paine

Sir Winston Churchill and Lady Astor, two prominent British politicians, experienced one of the most hostile relationships in Parliament history. Their interactions were constantly filled with conflict, sarcasm, and caustic remarks, each intending to pay the other back in full for past transgressions.

Once during a legislative session, Lady Astor became so upset with one of Churchill’s decisions that she shouted, “Sir Winston, if you were my husband, I’d poison your tea.”

To which Churchill quickly retorted, “Madam, if you were my wife, I’d drink it.”

If your work life sometimes feels like a session of the old-school British Parliament, take heart. You can’t change your coworkers, but you can change your point of view about them—and about yourself. Here’s the reality: In today’s “dog-eat-dog” work environment, many people needlessly put each … Continue reading 10 Ways to Resolve Workplace Conflict →