Duelling Colleagues: Peacemaking Techniques For Business Owners

When you run a small-to-medium business, one of the problems you can least afford is for colleague disagreements turning into all out war.

In all walks of life, we are going to meet people we don’t like; people who we just don’t seem to gel with on a personal level. This is inevitable, but when you see it happening in your workplace between two valued colleagues, it can mean you’re in for a bumpy ride. The dream is that they will be professional enough to be able to rise above it; the reality is usually very different.

So rather than let your business suffer due to their personal acrimony, how do you get everyone to lay down their weapons and focus on your business as a priority?

Step 1: What Happened?

It’s very rare indeed that people take an instant dislike to one another. Behind every argument, there will be something that started it. You need to get to the bottom of this argument once and for all.

It’s important to note that, in some instances, it’s not your place to intervene. This scenario would be when the matter is purely personal. Perhaps they are friends and had a disagreement outside of work that is spilling into their professional life; or they’re a former couple who are struggling to cope now they have split up. This is not your business to deal with; but nor should you expect them to deal with it in your business. Issue strict reprimands and extract guarantees it’s not going to happen again.

Now, if the matter is business related, you need the details from both parties and innocent bystanders.

Step 2: Can You Fix What Happened?

If you can, do so. It might be that one member of staff missed a meeting and made life hard for the other; or that there was a missed order that was blamed on the wrong person. Rectify the wrong, extract apologies from them both, and then move on to the next stage.

If you can’t fix it – and the issue is more just a general sense of rubbing one another up the wrong way – then your solution is to keep them apart. Do as you did with the personal matter above; strict reprimands and guarantees.

Step 3: How Can You Stop It Happening Again?

If one member of staff is still smarting from a prior event, then you need to ensure it’s not going to happen for a second time and inflame things all the further.

The best way to do this is to check communication. Poor communication is at the route of most office disagreements, from missed memos to not understanding the other’s point of view. It might be worth sending both parties for brush-up business writing training classes so you can be guaranteed in future they will move forward effectively.

Step 4: Separation

When you have smoothed over the past and set measures in place for the future, you might think you’re finished – but not quite yet. Wherever possible, keep these two people apart; move desks, move teams, whatever it takes. Previous issues can always resurface if grudges are still being held, so keeping everyone apart is to the benefit of all – your company success included.