Despite your best intentions, it’s possible that there are a few coworkers who really grind your gears. Offices are an amalgamation of personality types so it’s inevitable that there will be friction. But learning how to deal with those awkward moments of conflict take experience.

We sit down with our CEO for 15 minutes each week, every week to get practical business advice so we can advance in our careers. In this episode, we learn what to do if you don’t get along with a colleague…

Key Takeaways:

• It’s unreasonable to expect that everyone is going to be best friends but it IS reasonable to expect everyone to get along.
• If the coworker who you have a disagreement with has no impact on your career – just ignore them…but keep in mind you never know who will impact your career in the future
• When it comes to resolving conflict, utilize the circle of communication
• Avoid apologizing via email – it’s difficult to convey tone of voice and body language
• The more you can talk in person about a conflict, the better
• Don’t demand a resolution on the spot – it takes time
• If you can’t find a resolution, ask a mediator to step in
• Sometimes having a paper trail is a good thing – it gives you tangible proof of the conflict.
• In terms of remote teams, utilize video conference calls as much as possible

*download the Communication Wheel here and get your conflict resolution on