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Leaders need to know how to resolve conflicts or any situation in the workplace to help make employees feel more confident and more enthusiastic at work.

There are two main types of conflict: “internal” and “external.” Internal conflict arises when individuals’ thoughts or feelings prevent achieving the desired goal. External conflict emerges when there is a disagreement between two parties. Regardless of the type of conflict, it can be resolved with the right approach.

Two common conflicts in the workplace include:

Team members who don’t get along with each other

A lot of time can be wasted on conflicts caused by team members who don’t get along. This is why leaders need to resolve these conflicts before they escalate into something more serious.

One example of conflict resolution is to have the two people meet each other one-on-one in a private room. This way, they can get to know each other, talk about the issues, and find a solution together. This process needs to be done privately so it doesn’t worsen the conflict for others in the office who are not aware of it yet.

A colleague that takes credit for someone else

As a leader, you are responsible for resolving conflicts when your team members cannot work things out themselves. Should one offer an apology and let the situation go, or should one take it up with the colleague and ask them to apologise? It’s important that, as a leader, you do not take sides and that you allow your team members to resolve the conflict themselves. If one of them is refusing to step up and apologise, in that case, it is your responsibility to provide mediation.

In these situations, the main thing to remember is that your goal is not to anger anyone but rather to communicate the truth. You don’t have to be aggressive or condescending when you do so, but be firm on how you go about the situation based on your judgment as a leader.

Some people find it hard to confront other people about their mistakes. Others might be too immature to take responsibility for their actions. These are the reasons why conflicts arise. Leaders may not always resolve these conflicts themselves. Still, they can teach their employees how to fix them on their own.