Conflict happens sometimes, even when your sales team collaborates well most of the time. Targets might get missed or communication might be unclear. When tension builds and goes unchecked, even small issues can lead to big problems, like lost clients or turnover.
Pipedrive’s Syed Ali Nemeth says conflict resolution requires active listening, emotional intelligence, clear communication and mediation skills. It’s always better, he says, to prevent problems before they appear. In this issue of PromoPro Daily, we highlight his practical strategies for building prevention into your sales workflow so small misunderstandings don’t turn into big setbacks.
- Spot trouble early (and keep note of it). Early warning signs help you address issues while they’re still small and fixable. According to Nemeth, most causes of conflict start as minor communication breakdowns or unmet expectations that grow over time. He advises creating safe spaces where your team members feel comfortable providing feedback. And make it clear that feedback builds stronger personal relationships and can prevent bigger conflicts that impact everyone’s well-being.
- Set clear expectations from the start. Many workplace conflicts arise because people have different ideas about what was supposed to happen. By spelling out exactly what everyone can expect, Nemeth says you remove the guesswork that leads to disappointment. He suggests documenting things like communication preferences and response timeframes as well as team member roles and decision-making authority. Documented expectations give you a shared reference point you can return to whenever questions or disagreements arise, he says.
- Build feedback and training into your business processes. While some conflict arises because of differing viewpoints, it might escalate because people don’t know how to resolve them constructively. That’s why it’s so important to train your team members through things like weekly retrospectives or regular training sessions that improve self-awareness. Nemeth says teambuilding activities that work on problem-solving skills can also be helpful.
Addressing conflict proactively keeps small issues from turning into major setbacks. By spotting warning signs early, setting clear expectations and embedding feedback and training into daily workflows, you create a team culture where problems are solved before they escalate.
When everyone knows how to communicate openly and resolve disagreements constructively, relationships stay strong and morale improves. Conflict becomes less about drama and more about growth, giving your team members the tools to work smoothly together.
Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: Syed Ali Nemeth is a senior SEO manager for Pipedrive, a CRM platform.
