Be Open: The idea that our interpretation of reality is an accurate and realistic depiction of the outside world is known as naive realism. When people believe their point of view is always right and believe other people's is prejudiced or misinformed, they are exhibiting naïve realism in conflict at work. For instance, at a team meeting where project goals are being discussed, a worker may feel that their strategy is the most sensible and effective, while considering a colleague's offer to be faulty or ignorant. This kind of thinking can cause miscommunication, unwillingness to give in, and trouble settling disputes. The first step to resolving a conflict with a coworker is to be open to opinions and perspectives, remember that you coworkers come from various backgrounds. Moreover, it is also important to to challenge one’s own thoughts Here are some questions you can ask yourself: How do I make sure my beliefs are true? What if my judgment was off? How could I modify my actions in light of this? What presumptions guide my reasoning? What perspectives might people with varying backgrounds and ideals have on the matter? It is more advantageous to accept the process of questioning itself rather than obsessing about coming up with specific answers to these issues. This is a helpful reminder that everyone's viewpoints are different and subjective. Acknowledge that having different opinions is normal and acceptable. Instead of wasting time arguing over who has the right interpretation, concentrate on figuring out the best course of action. Self Awareness: Being aware of your own biases and limitations is essential in conflict resolution. Individuals often have this tendency to associate other people’s actions with their personality, than with the external situation, while believing the opposite for oneself. An example of this could be, assuming that a fellow colleague dismissed an idea you pitched, is related to him being arrogant. While in reality, your coworker may be under a lot of stress causing him to act defensive. This leads to escalating conflict between the two of you. Becoming self aware involves two steps i. Putting yourself in the position of your coworker and trying to be empathetic. This will enable you to become self aware. ii. Get a second opinion, talk to some other colleague, who you can trust. Getting a second opinion allows us to look at other perspectives, especially when this information comes from someone you trust. Avoid Making it a Me Vs You scenario: Rather than perceiving the conflict between you and your coworker as being on two opposing sides, look at the situation consisting of you and your colleague and the dynamic between you two. This dynamic can be related to a decision that you both are expected to take at the workplace, it can be also related to a more general situation of conflicting opinions or mindsets. Rather than addressing the conflict as wanting your colleague to change, focus on the possible actions you and your colleague can take to target the dynamic of concern. Don't try to “fix” everything: Despite our effort, sometimes two individuals are not able to form a close interpersonal relationship. People have different opinions and perspectives towards life, different values that they hold close to themselves. Being okay with just maintaining a professional relationship with adequate boundaries is important.

STEPS TO NAVIGATE CONFLICT WITH A COWORKER