![\"Nicola](\"http:\/\/www.instantoffices.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Nicola.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
1. Communication is key<\/strong><\/p>\n Most conflicts occur because of a communication breakdown. \u00a0<\/strong>Whether there\u2019s no communication whatsoever or a general lack of it, if communication isn\u2019t being carried out effectively among your staff, there will be a serious clash in expectations of the task that has been set. Ensure that staff have the opportunity to discuss matters in a nonthreatening environment, and foster the idea that \u2018no question is a stupid question\u2019 to encourage employees to speak up if things are unclear.<\/p>\n 2. Define job descriptions clearly<\/strong><\/p>\n All employees should have clearly defined job descriptions that detail what is expected of them, along with a communications process, so they\u2019re able to fulfill the task. Preventing any issues in the first place should be your first step.<\/p>\n 3. Address it<\/strong><\/p>\n When conflict occurs, don\u2019t shy away from the problem. Encourage the parties involved to discuss the issue with the employer as a mediator, so that there\u2019s a clear neutral party who can judge the situation and help to create a resolve. Talking about this will ensure that as the employer they are being professional and appropriate. Make sure that along with any emotional information, you also discuss the facts of the situation.<\/p>\n 4. Find common ground<\/strong><\/p>\n Once each party has discussed the conflict separately, and together, this will give everyone an opportunity to see the real issue that is facing them. You need to bridge the gap between your staff to ensure that they can continue to work effectively together. \u00a0\u00a0Each person must be willing to give in a little, for the betterment of the company. You may find that the issue is much bigger than the employees, as it may open your eyes to the current state of the office environment, or the attitudes that your staff feel towards the company.\u00a0 Get it all out in the open and work together to see how you can move it forward.<\/p>\n 5. Be positive<\/strong><\/p>\n Employee disputes are never ideal for a working environment, but it\u2019s best that you approach them with a positive, problem solving attitude that can create an open office policy.\u00a0 If your team doesn\u2019t feel as though they can come to you with their issues, they can manifest themselves into bigger future problems, such as an unhappy working environment, leading people to find employment elsewhere.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1. Aerobics<\/strong><\/p>\n We don\u2019t hold dance classes clad in brightly coloured 80\u2019s work out gear, but we do make sure that we move into some sunshine, get some fresh air and stretch our legs frequently. Sometimes taking a break can be the best thing for productivity, and these short, frequent breaks help the team bond as non-work conversations crop up. This helps make the connections more real, and helps get the job done as the team fights together in the modern-day workplace trenches.<\/p>\n \u00a02.\u00a0<\/strong>Cupcakes<\/strong><\/p>\n Who doesn\u2019t like cupcakes? We love to show our appreciation for the hard work that our staff do, and sometimes there is no better way than a batch of cupcakes for simply no reason. We are big on bringing in balloons etc. for birthdays and big occasions. Sometimes just a little unconditional appreciation can go a long way. (Hmmm, cupcakes.)<\/p>\n 3. Comfort<\/strong><\/p>\n When the pressure cooker gets going, and you really start to sweat, it is vital that you have something to keep the sweat out of your eyes to ensure that the vision of the final goal isn\u2019t obstructed. This isn\u2019t the perfect metaphor, but rather refers to the concept of ensuring that the team has all the tools necessary to fight the good fight. With the correct tools, valuable time can be saved and frustrations kept at bay. We aren\u2019t talking about a bottomless pit of spending, but rather focusing on quality, necessary tools can really make a difference to your team.<\/p>\n 4. Crayons<\/strong><\/p>\n When deadlines are weighing heavy on shoulders, sometimes it is vital to allow emotions to flow and the tension that arises to be welcomed instead of shunned. The best way for us to leverage said tension is to clean our massive white-board, get the box of markers out, and let our brains go wild. This planning phase is vital to creative solutions for often seemingly impossible requests. A creative outlet allows the team to come together, relax for a little bit, and get the creative juices flowing which definitely helps you get lost in the moment for a bit.<\/p>\n 5. #SubdayFriday<\/strong><\/p>\n Our secret to success that we probably shouldn\u2019t be sharing so readily is\u2026 Subway. Every Friday the team heads down to Subway and we get stuck into some seriously good food. This weekly ritual allows us to break away from the normal day-to-day happenings within the office and allows for a different take on the world. Plus, who can say no to a glorious chicken mayo sub?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1. Make people feel valued<\/strong><\/p>\n This sounds simple but a \u2018well done\u2019 for good work, said in person or via email, is enough to make employees feel appreciated. If an employee considers themselves valuable to the company, they are much more likely to have daily job satisfaction rather than consider their work as a means to an end. They will look forward to coming to work as they are being rewarded for their efforts.<\/p>\n 2. Take an interest in your staff<\/strong><\/p>\n If you are an HR manager or senior member of a small business, make a point of visiting individuals daily. Ask for regular updates outlining what people are up to, how happy they are and how things are generally running in the team. It\u2019s easier to gain an accurate insight into morale this way and spot any issues as early as possible.<\/p>\n 3. Give and take<\/strong><\/p>\n Every business goes through busy times when more demands are made on employees, like compulsory overtime. It\u2019s spells like this where managers have a duty of care. Staff need to be reminded that this is temporary and that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps allow longer breaks where you can, grant discretionary time off for people to do the school run or even just phone in for a pizza to feed the team. Little gestures mean a lot.<\/p>\n 4. Be flexible<\/strong><\/p>\n In today’s workplace, keeping loyal employees is essential, particularly for smaller businesses, where recruitment can be a long and expensive process. So if someone has a problem that is causing absences, finding the source of the cause will help you to work on a solution together, ensuring you ultimately keep your team member. Of course there will be times when this doesn\u2019t work out, but it should always be your aim.<\/p>\n 5. Host fun events<\/strong><\/p>\n A great way of bringing a team or entire company together is by having regular events. Finding an activity in the calendar, such as a charity initiative or seasonal event, is a really simple way of involving the staff. What\u2019s more, there is very little organisation involved. Come up with activities that everyone can take part in and make it fun. Be aware, not everyone will want to be involved – this is just human nature, so don\u2019t force it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thanks to all our contributors for their valuable advice. For more expert tips be sure to follow us on\u00a0Facebook<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Twitter<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Stress and tension can be highly counter productive for business looking to grow, and to employees on a personal level too. Working in today\u2019s fast paced corporate environment, pressure is constant. However, it can be put to good use. A great leader is able to manage employee tensions and help employees effectively deal with the many workplace stresses) that are common in the working environment. In today\u2019s edition of \u2018Tips from the Experts\u2019, we asked three business professionals to share their top five tips on how to effectively deal with employee tensions. Nicola Mewse, Operations Director at Halesgroup\u00a0 1. Communication is key Most conflicts occur because of a communication breakdown. \u00a0Whether there\u2019s no communication whatsoever or a general lack of it, if communication isn\u2019t being carried out effectively among your staff, there will be a serious clash in expectations of the task that has been set. Ensure that staff have the opportunity to discuss matters in a nonthreatening environment, and foster the idea that \u2018no question is a stupid question\u2019 to encourage employees to speak up if things are unclear. 2. Define job descriptions clearly All employees should have clearly defined job descriptions that detail what is expected of them, along with a communications process, so they\u2019re able to fulfill the task. Preventing any issues in the first place should be your first step. 3. Address it When conflict occurs, don\u2019t shy away from the problem. Encourage the parties involved to discuss the issue with the employer as a mediator, so that there\u2019s a clear neutral party who can judge the situation and help to create a resolve. Talking about this will ensure that as the employer they are being professional and appropriate. Make sure that along with any emotional information, you also discuss the facts of the situation. 4. Find common ground Once each party has discussed the conflict separately, and together, this will give everyone an opportunity to see the real issue that is facing them. You need to bridge the gap between your staff to ensure that they can continue to work effectively together. \u00a0\u00a0Each person must be willing to give in a little, for the betterment of the company. You may find that the issue is much bigger than the employees, as it may open your eyes to the current state of the office environment, or the attitudes that your staff feel towards the company.\u00a0 Get it all out in the open and work together to see how you can move it forward. 5. Be positive Employee disputes are never ideal for a working environment, but it\u2019s best that you approach them with a positive, problem solving attitude that can create an open office policy.\u00a0 If your team doesn\u2019t feel as though they can come to you with their issues, they can manifest themselves into bigger future problems, such as an unhappy working environment, leading people to find employment elsewhere. Christopher Mills, Director at iMod Digital 1. Aerobics We don\u2019t hold dance classes clad in brightly coloured 80\u2019s work out gear, but we do make sure that we move into some sunshine, get some fresh air and stretch our legs frequently. Sometimes taking a break can be the best thing for productivity, and these short, frequent breaks help the team bond as non-work conversations crop up. This helps make the connections more real, and helps get the job done as the team fights together in the modern-day workplace trenches. \u00a02.\u00a0Cupcakes Who doesn\u2019t like cupcakes? We love to show our appreciation for the hard work that our staff do, and sometimes there is no better way than a batch of cupcakes for simply no reason. We are big on bringing in balloons etc. for birthdays and big occasions. Sometimes just a little unconditional appreciation can go a long way. (Hmmm, cupcakes.) 3. Comfort When the pressure cooker gets going, and you really start to sweat, it is vital that you have something to keep the sweat out of your eyes to ensure that the vision of the final goal isn\u2019t obstructed. This isn\u2019t the perfect metaphor, but rather refers to the concept of ensuring that the team has all the tools necessary to fight the good fight. With the correct tools, valuable time can be saved and frustrations kept at bay. We aren\u2019t talking about a bottomless pit of spending, but rather focusing on quality, necessary tools can really make a difference to your team. 4. Crayons When deadlines are weighing heavy on shoulders, sometimes it is vital to allow emotions to flow and the tension that arises to be welcomed instead of shunned. The best way for us to leverage said tension is to clean our massive white-board, get the box of markers out, and let our brains go wild. This planning phase is vital to creative solutions for often seemingly impossible requests. A creative outlet allows the team to come together, relax for a little bit, and get the creative juices flowing which definitely helps you get lost in the moment for a bit. 5. #SubdayFriday Our secret to success that we probably shouldn\u2019t be sharing so readily is\u2026 Subway. Every Friday the team heads down to Subway and we get stuck into some seriously good food. This weekly ritual allows us to break away from the normal day-to-day happenings within the office and allows for a different take on the world. Plus, who can say no to a glorious chicken mayo sub? Melanie Astbury, the HR Manager of Officekitten.co.uk 1. Make people feel valued This sounds simple but a \u2018well done\u2019 for good work, said in person or via email, is enough to make employees feel appreciated. If an employee considers themselves valuable to the company, they are much more likely to have daily job satisfaction rather than consider their work as a means to an end. They will look forward to coming to work as they are being rewarded for their efforts. 2. Take an interest in your staff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8310,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,217],"tags":[130,93],"class_list":["post-2141","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-growth","category-expert-tips","tag-employee-tensions","tag-tips-from-the-experts-2"],"yoast_head":"\nChristopher Mills, Director at iMod Digital<\/a><\/em>
\n![\"christopher-mills-300x300\"](\"http:\/\/uk.instantoffices.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Christopher-Mills-300x300.jpg\")
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\nMelanie Astbury, the HR Manager of Officekitten.co.uk<\/a><\/em>
\n![\"melanie-astbury-hr-manager-1-768x870\"](\"http:\/\/uk.instantoffices.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Melanie-Astbury-HR-Manager-1-768x870-265x300.jpg\")
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n