How to Put the Brakes on Escalating Commercial and Workplace Conflicts

When a boardroom or workplace conflict explodes, it is easy to let emotions drive decision-making.

But as any seasoned executive or professional knows, reacting aggressively to an ultimatum or contract breach usually pours gasoline on the fire.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Here is how you can mitigate risk, either by de-escalating in-house or by bringing in conflict resolution experts at the right time:

𝟭) 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘃𝗲: When tensions rise, lower your voice. Allow the other person to state their frustrations uninterrupted. Emotional outbursts provide valuable data on what the other side truly fears or values.

𝟮) 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺: Focus on objective, neutral data and facts. Using an objective criteria acts like gravity, pulling an emotional argument back to solid ground.Know

𝟯) 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶t: This allows you to negotiate from confidence rather than fear.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆: 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴.

Originally published on LinkedIn.