Dental clinics are busy places. An array of personnel are available to keep them going, with high-pressure situations and multitasking being the norm for all of them. The clinics are also close-knit places. All of which means the potential for conflict is always present.
Managing conflict is an acquired trait; nobody is born with the knowledge of how to do so. And since conflict is inevitable, whether in personal relationships or professional settings, it is best to learn how to deal with it head on. If allowed to fester, differences may turn into grudges, thus vitiating the work environment for everybody.
If you are in charge of one such practice, or an active part of such a set-up, the following tips may help you deal with conflict at your workplace.
When there’s conflict under you
However tempted you may be to bury your head in the sand and hope for problems to go away, that is not a smart way to deal with conflict when you are running a place. If you are the head dentist at your clinic, you need all of your staff to get along well as they work together to keep the place functioning smoothly.
Spend time with the conflicting staff and understand their perspectives. Act as a mediator, and make them see where the other is coming from and also where their interests lie. Encourage people to keep their professional goals above their personal differences.
If you have a problem with someone
If you have a recurring problem with someone, work up the nerve to talk to them about it, don’t just suffer in silence. Spend time forming your argument and present it in a way that makes them see where they may have trodden on you. Do so in a polite way though. Nobody finds dealing with conflict pleasant but the alternative to not dealing with it is very unhealthy and may even lead to a point where people need to look for employment elsewhere.
If someone has a problem with you
It’s natural to feel under attack and go on defensive if someone accuses you of being the root of their problems. It doesn’t matter if that is done politely via email or argumentatively in person. Regardless of the approach taken by the aggrieved party, try to consider their point of view. Is this person a regular whinger? Do they have a problem with others as well? If not, is it possible you may have inadvertently hurt or offended them? Look at the matter from their perspective, and once you understand what they are on about, offer them your side of the story.
If there has been a misunderstanding, this should clear the matters between the two of you.
When nothing works
When you have tried everything in your power to get along with others but none of your grievances or disagreements has been addressed, it may be time for you to consider moving on.
This is always the last step. Be very clear about your reasons for leaving. Also be mindful of how you would explain leaving your last place of work on your CV when you are applying for dental hygienist, dental receptionist, or dental nursing jobs, especially if you are going to cite any of your previous colleagues as references.