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Leaders and managers, you can turn verbal conflict into collaboration and results. Don’t let clashes of differences become the driving force on your teams. Here’s how to identify the possible verbal collisions and turn them into opportunities and results.

Turn Verbal Conflict into Collaborations. Image by Eyesplash via Flickr Creative Commons License.

Image via Eyesplash via Flickr Creative Commons License.

Turn Verbal Conflict into Great Opportunities!

Turning verbal conflict into collaboration and opportunities starts with seeing the first moment of collision as temporary. Many types of differences can lead to collisions but they don’t have to turn into conflict.

Types of Differences That Create Quick Collisions

1. Personality Types. These differences can clash in a quick moment. Action Step: Prevent them from dividing your teams in conflict by training everyone on the differences and how to spot and adapt to each other. I’ve been teaching this for years and it delivers tremendous results.

2. Cultural Differences. We are a global world. Companies have employees from different cultures. These differences can spark a collision but they don’t have to turn into conflict. Action Step: Have sessions where culturally diverse employees exchange information about their culture. It’s a great team building activity and it prevents future verbal conflict.




States of Mind

3. Educational Differences. Verbal collisions can happen from educational differences. Sometimes employees with less education feel insecure when interacting with team members that have more education. Likewise some with more education may think they’re better than others. Leaders, turn verbal conflict in these moments into great chances for everyone to know their value. Highlight everyone’s natural talents and ask them to highlight each other’s strengths.

4. Learning Style Differences. As team members work on new challenges together, individual learning styles can create collisions. Some people are verbal learners and others want them to be quiet. Still others may be visual learners and need pictures. Some may be hands-on learners that jump into the task quickly and annoying everyone else. And of course, there are those who want to read/write to proceed into something new. Action Step: Make all team members aware of these four learning styles and they will turn verbal conflict into teamwork and great results.




Generational Differences & Verbal Conflict

5. Generational Differences. Our values are shaped by what was happening in the world as we grew up. With all the generations in the workplace, these differences can spark collisions. However, we are all human beings with common needs. Action Step: Do team building activities that have everyone discover common human needs. Then, do activities that show each generation how they can help each other. These team building activities replace verbal conflict with positive energy and results.

Shifting From Verbal Conflict to Working Together

• Watch your words and assumptions. Accusatory words inflame conflict. Saying things like “why are you trying to dominate” can erupt into a big conflict. Instead, ask other’s about their intentions and goals. Listen and hear the differences between you.

• Clarify each person’s view. This breeds understanding AND it also shifts people’s attitudes toward working together.

• Find the fit to working together. When everyone is willing to adapt to close the gaps, teamwork is easy!

Differences don’t have to drive you to verbal conflict or get you stuck there. You can turn initial collisions into working together for great results.

©2022 Kate Nasser, CAS, Inc. Somerville, NJ. I appreciate your sharing the link to this post on your social streams. However, if you want to re-post or republish the content of this post, please email info@katenasser.com for permission and guidelines. Thank you for respecting intellectual capital.

Kate Nasser, The People Skills Coach™, delivers coaching, consulting, training, and keynotes on leading change, employee engagement, teamwork, and delivering the ultimate customer service. She turns interaction obstacles into interpersonal success. See this site for workshop outlines, keynote footage, and customer results.

Tags: attitude, beliefs, collaboration, collisions, conflict, Customer Service, differences, diversity, employee experience, inclusion, Leadership, Learning, listening, Mindset, people skills, power, style, Teamwork, understanding, verbal