A communication skill that helps with managing conflict in the workplace is listening. I agree with Lorraine Segal’s points on listening. In order to resolve issues at work one must be willing to be open and listen to the opposing side to understand their point of view. Making assumptions about what other’s intentions are is not a good way to clear conflicts. We all have our own perspective and sometimes things aren’t the way we perceived them to be. It is important to listen and talk with the person whom we are in conflict with because sometimes their message does not come across the way they intended. This helps to build empathy and improved relationships.

A “hot button” for me is being arrogant. This can apply to new or older nurses and those outside of nursing. The healthcare field is so diverse with everyone having their own expertise and experiences that others can learn from. For newer nurses or anyone needing to learn a new skill it is important to set arrogance aside and be open to learning all the time. This can also get in the way of teamwork and not being receptive to suggestions. There is a difference though between being arrogant and experienced/knowledgeable. A way to manage this in the future would be to have patience and manage my own emotions. Being willing to listen and talk about the issue can help.

Khawand, P. (2014, June 06). Effective Strategies to Manage Conflict at Work [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8_n-QGwh-E