ºìÐÓÊÓƵ

Skip to main content
People Departments Maps Buildings Rooms A-Z
University
of Victoria
Apply Library
Sign in Online tools Sign out
Conflict toolkit

Discuss

After the Consider step, choose 1 of 3 options to help resolve the conflict.

1. Coach employees

With the right coaching, you can support your employees to resolve the conflict themselves. Ensure they have the tools and support they need to engage directly with each other.

This is a good option when:

  • the employee is taking ownership
  • the employee has not addressed this with the other employee
  • the issue is between the two and not directly impacting the team
  • the employee is not yet clear on the issues

  • the relationship or team structure forms the basis of the situation

Tool:

2. Facilitate the conversation

Bring those involved together and facilitate a conversation between them. 

This is a good option when:

  • the employees have unsuccessfully tried to resolve conflict on their own
  • the situation is directly impacting the team
  • the situation has the potential to escalate quickly
  • I (the leader) might have contributed to the conflict, requiring clarity with all parties
  • the situation requires a leadership perspective
  • the conflict involves things relating to departmental structures (job descriptions, policies)

Tools: 

3. Normalize the conflict

Normalize the conflict as a regular part of team development dynamics using the team norms resource. Follow-up with individual or group conversations to help the whole team understand.

This is a good option when:

  • the conflict seems healthy, mostly focused on content and not the individual’s character
  • the issues at play are differences in the interpretation of a team standard or norm
  • the resulting clarity is best achieved one-on-one or through conversations with others on the team
  • the primary issue seems to be about clarity of a task, role, policy, procedure or process
  • the emotional and interpersonal dynamics involved are low
  • there’s little or no involvement in confidential matters

Tools & resources

Practice your difficult conversation by calling TELUS Health (UVic's Employee & Family Assistance Program) and asking for a consult on dealing with an employee.

 

This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to collect information about how you interact with our website and allow us to remember your browser. We use this information to improve and customize your browsing experience, for analytics and metrics about our visitors both on this website and other media, and for marketing purposes. By using this website, you accept and agree to be bound by UVic’s Terms of Use and Protection of Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to the above, you must not use this website.