Make it your business to pay attention to conflict

Managers of businesses must pay constant attention to situations that cause conflict because if they don’t, they may end up embroiled in costly litigation.

What can managers do when disputes arise? How can conflict be avoided? And if it can’t, what is the best way of dealing with it before it transforms into out of control litigation?

Some managers are instinctive peacemakers. They can deal with tricky situations by using their natural charm, intelligence or strength of character and instantly resolve conflict. Other managers don’t have that natural ability and their ill-judged interventions can inflame situations and cause conflict to spiral out of control.