5 Ways to Avoid Conflict in Your Contracting Business

Conflicts inside your contracting business aren’t as complicated as the ones you might have with clients or other contractors, but they can still be stressful. If you want to create an environment where you and your employees can work together in peace, you have to build it from the beginning. Here are five things you can do.

Take Time to Cool Off
When you’re dealing with a disagreement that doesn’t have an easy resolution, you might feel your temper rising. Similarly, you may notice other members of your team getting frustrated. The best thing that you can do in the situation is to table the conversation and take a break. Giving yourself time to cool off can make it easier for you to evaluate the situation with a level head. When you take a break, be sure to take an actual break. Stop working, get up and take a short walk, drink some water or eat a light snack. Even 5 to 10 minutes can make a noticeable difference in your mood.

Try Writing Down Your Thoughts
If you’re having trouble communicating verbally, you’re not alone. Plenty of people struggle to make decisions on the fly. It’s even harder when you are dealing with a difference of opinion or attitude. To help clarify your goals and expectations, it might be a good idea to write down what you’re thinking. It doesn’t have to be perfect, and you don’t necessarily have to send it or read it to others. In many cases, writing out your thoughts can make it easier for you to distinguish what you say from what you mean. It’s a useful tool to help you avoid miscommunication.

Give the Benefit of the Doubt
One of the best things that you can do to address conflict is to give other people the benefit of the doubt. As a general rule, it’s wise to assume that members of your team are acting in good faith. Until you have clear evidence that this is not the case, you should assume that there may be aspects of their position that you do not understand. Look at the conflict from a standpoint of collaboration. Think about assumptions that you have made throughout the conversation, and ask yourself how accurate they really are. You may be able to walk back some incorrect statements with this information.

Avoid Doubling Down
It’s tempting to conclude that you are the only person with the correct opinion, but this can cause problems. Even if you have more knowledge and experience related to the issue in question, you should avoid doubling down on your viewpoints. People want to be heard, and encouraging your employees to work with you is an important part of successful project management. If you keep re-asserting that you are right, and they are wrong, you discourage discussion. Instead, take as much time as you need to be able to interact fairly and reasonably.

Acknowledge Competing Points of View
When you go back and evaluate a conflict, you might notice that the conversation sounds like two ships passing in the night. You say one thing, a member of your team says something completely different, and then you keep repeating the same points. If you want true understanding and collaboration, you should take the time to acknowledge competing points of view. Re-state the conflict as presented by your employee, in your own words. Ask them to clarify until they say it is correct. With this information, you may be able to identify the trigger point for the conflict and come to a compromise that works for everyone.

Disagreements are common when you run a contracting business. Keeping them from turning into damaging conflicts is a skill you have to learn. For more guidance on the things, you’ll need to run a contracting business, contact CSLS today!