Working out coworker conflicts

Working out Coworker Conflicts Do you know what is eventually going to happen when you spend 8 or 12 hours a day working closely with another person? Especially in a somewhat shared space, and under very stressful circumstances. Well, there are actually multiple answers, one being you may become very close to the person, depending on them whenever needed, and another is, at times they are going to annoy you. It's inevitable; no matter how much you like your coworkers, eventually there will be some conflicts. It’s human nature.

- Your coworker forgets to tell you a patient’s family member is on hold, and after 20 minutes you pick up the phone only to be told that they were waiting forever. The worst part is, you were sitting there 15 of those minutes, but the coworker than answered forgot to mention they were holding. Is it annoying? Without a doubt, but was it intentional?

Almost certainly not. So, there are some considerations, has this happened multiple times? What was your coworker doing that they forgot to alert you? Were they busy entering patient info into the computer, or were they chatting with their significant other? The answers to those questions should serve as a guide how to handle things. If it never happened before, take it as a onetime mistake. Maybe enlighten the coworker to the fact that the family was very upset about the hold time, that should be a subtle reminder not to let it happen again. If it’s a regular occurrence with this coworker, it's time to mention it to a supervisor.

Related: Uterine Fibroids and Endometriosis There are so many little things that can happen on a busy hospital floor, at times everyone may get on your nerves. Take a break and ask yourself, is it possible it’s you? Maybe you just need a break for a few minutes and reboot your caring personality. If on the other hand, there is a coworker that continuously gets on your nerves, and with good reason, you are ready to blow up. Stop, breathe, and be professional.

Wait until you are calm, even if it’s the next day, wait. Once you are calm and composed, ask to speak with the coworker privately. Start out the conversation with I and not You, it's much less intimidating and accusatory. Explain what it is that is bothering you, and most importantly, explain why. Explaining why it bothers you indicates you take some blame for letting it bother you. Most likely you can work out the problem between the two of you and no further intervention is

necessary. If on the other hand, you cannot resolve things you may need to seek the intervention of a supervisor or human resource representative. If you do enlist help, be sure to accept some blame yourself, anyone that presents themselves as blameless, gives off the feeling that they are not at fault at all, and that is highly unlikely. Never discuss a problem with a coworker, with another coworker, keep it to yourself or speak with the appropriate person.

Experiments have been conducted to determine ways to reduce conflict with nurses that work in hospitals. The results were conclusive, there are ways to handle situations that can help to end conflicts, and make for a much better working environment.

Options - Conflicts between two workers can more effectively be handled in a meeting with the two of them, and possibly a mediator. A mediator would allow each party to talk and explain what they feel is the problem. After which, the mediator would ask each party to offer an opinion on how they feel the problem can be solved. This sets the ground for working things out themselves if another problem occurs.

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Conflicts within larger groups can indicate poor management and should be closely monitored. A group meeting that is well structured is a good start to determine the problem. The meeting should be conducted without active supervisors so that employees feel free to share their concerns and opinions.

Related: What are the uses of Psychotropic Medications Studies showed that quarterly meetings on respecting coworkers and building a good team did in fact make a difference in the working environment. It's always better to avoid a problem than to correct a problem, and clearing the air can do just that.

Related: Leading Registered Nurse, Linda K. Tilley, RN, will be Announced in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter