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Ensuring a smooth work life often hinges on the quality of your relationships with your coworkers. However, you might find yourself in a challenging position when involved in conflicts.

An office romance has turned sour, or two junior account executives compete for one promotion. Forty hours of togetherness each week is too much for incompatible personalities.

Whatever the causes, office conflicts often create stress and lower productivity.

How do you decide whether to intervene or keep your distance? Take a look at these suggestions for navigating a common workplace dilemma.

Tips for Intervening with Feuding Coworkers

You may need to take action if the battles are interfering with your ability to do your job. Sometimes, you can help restore harmony, even if it’s not part of your job description.

Try these techniques to help resolve these situations:

1. When feuding coworkers, it’s crucial to stay neutral. Even if you’re closer to one of the parties, overcoming bias and interacting effectively with all your colleagues is essential. Remember, your goal is to restore harmony, not to take sides.
2. Listen. Demonstrate your willingness to listen to different points of view. Allowing each party to vent can be constructive if you watch for signs of it developing into chronic complaining.
3. Explain the impact. Your coworkers may be so caught up in their struggles that they fail to realize how they affect the rest of the office. Letting them know how others feel could motivate them to settle their differences.
4. Collaborate on solutions. Unsolicited advice can be tricky. Ask your coworkers if they want your suggestions. Offer to help them brainstorm options for turning the situation around.
5. Follow up. To create lasting peace, keep your eyes on the situation. Previous differences may spring back up in different forms.

Tips for Keeping Your Distance from Feuding Coworkers

On the other hand, you may prefer to watch drama on TV instead of dealing with it in the next cubicle. As long as you’re not in a supervisory position, you have alternatives to playing peacekeeper.

Consider these ideas:

1. Document activities. Office conflicts can muddle communications and pull you in different directions. Create a paper trail and keep others informed of your activities so you’re less likely to be held responsible for events beyond your control.
2. Consult your colleagues. If you’re confused about what to do, try talking with someone you trust. Others may share your concerns, and you’ll benefit from putting your heads together.
3. Avoid gossip. Naturally, discussing your coworkers can be a sensitive subject. Ask yourself if what you’re saying is accurate and helpful.
4. Approach a third party. If the office is becoming seriously divided, you may need to report the matter to your boss or HR. If so, stick to the facts and clarify that you’re eager to do your part to make positive changes.
5. While it’s true that some conflicts are more challenging to resolve than others, fostering a positive work environment can help heal minor disagreements and prevent them from escalating. Consider proposing activities that unite the company, such as group volunteer projects and occasional parties to boost morale and maintain a harmonious workplace.
6. While conflicts in the office may seem daunting, they can also be opportunities for personal growth and learning. Coworkers who successfully navigate their differences often forge stronger bonds than those without such challenges. These conflicts can also provide valuable insights about ourselves and our values.
    

Remember, office disputes may be a part of professional life, but they don’t have to consume your energy. You can navigate these challenges and thrive in your workplace by maintaining healthy boundaries, empathizing with your coworkers, and focusing on your career goals.