From the course: Managing Conflict and Difficult Situations for Production Workers
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Address tension without taking sides
From the course: Managing Conflict and Difficult Situations for Production Workers
Address tension without taking sides
Sometimes the best move is keeping things neutral and focused. When two coworkers are bumping heads on the floor, it can be awkward and uncomfortable. And it's easy to feel stuck in the middle. This is not the time to be a referee, but it is possible to help mediate and get back to work. Start by staying neutral. As someone vents to you, you can listen, but it's best if you don't get involved in the details. You can say, “That sounds frustrating. Have you talked to them about it yet? I hope you two can talk it out.” Something like that shows support without picking a side or feeding into the drama. If the tension is affecting the work, you can also speak up about how it's impacting everyone reaching the goals of the day. Try something like, “Hey, I know there's been some tension here, but I'm getting distracted. Let's all just focus on getting through this shift together.” This shows that you're really wanting to focus on the work, which can eliminate small disagreements. You can also…
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