Do you have a manager who is tough to work with? Perhaps they micromanage you or lack the appropriate communication skills. It could feel demoralizing to work with them. They may act as roadblocks in your career growth, which may even lead you to question your career choices.
Now think about the best manager you have had. You might consider moments where they praised you, promoted you, and were a positive influence in your life. Perhaps they pushed you to improve or gave you the freedom to implement your ideas by placing their full trust in you. These are the people who help you grow. When you know your manager trusts you, you tend to go the extra mile to deliver better every day.
So, during the more difficult periods, how do we manage our managers? Follow the PAE method to manage conflicts with your bosses.
PAE stands for:
- Problem identification
- Analyzing the conflict
- Exhibiting empathy
Problem identification
The first step in handling a conflict situation with your manager is identifying the problem. Many a time, there's a sense of negativity in the relationship, but the exact problem might not be clear. This is where one has to become introspective and pinpoint where things could be going wrong.
Ask questions like, "Why is my manager indifferent to me? Are they going through a personal loss or a high-pressure pressure situation? Are they having problems with their own manager? Did I make any mistake? How did I respond to the mistake? Did I own up to it, or did I give excuses? Is there a communication problem with my manager? Is there a third person who is playing petty politics?
Once you identify the problem, you can move on to the next step in the conflict resolution process.
Analyzing the conflict
Once the problem is identified, analyze the conflict resolution process. Ask yourself how your manager would react if you had a one-on-one conversation with them. Would they be responsive or defensive? Should I communicate it better? Will it make matters worse? If I put it to rest, will the conflict diffuse by itself? Answering these questions will help you spot all the hurdles between you and your manager. A proper analysis will also help you realize if you require a mediator in the conflict resolution process.
Exhibiting empathy
At the end of the day, your manager is a person who has their own set of struggles. Rather than seeing them as an enemy, try to see them as a coworker who has a life outside work, just like you have a life outside work. The only person who can solve conflicts with your manager is you. If you exhibit empathy, you can definitely solve issues with your manager.
Conclusion
Try the PAE method for a healthy, professional relationship with your manager. Once a problem is identified, analyzed, and discussed with empathy, it paves the way for amicable conflict resolution. If you work on a remote team, you might need internal communication software to communicate with your manager. Some of the conversations need to be listed down, some need to be recorded with the consent of both parties, and some discussion points need absolute privacy. This is where business communication software like Zoho Cliq comes in handy in the conflict resolution process. With secret chat and the option to make audio and video calls, you can easily resolve conflicts with your manager and coworkers.
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