What do you think of when you hear the term conflict?

Many view conflicts as negative, and unproductive. However, when used strategically, conflict can be very useful and productive. When it comes to the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC), some conflict is even considered healthy!

​What is Conflict?
 
Conflict is defined as a serious disagreement or argument. Generally speaking, conflict is considered to be unproductive because it’s focused on a person, rather than an issue, idea, or value. Unproductive conflict just goes in circles, produces no resolutions, is repetitive, and ends up resulting in personal attacks.
 
In contrast, when the focus on conflict is shifted from people to ideas, values, or specific issues, conflict can be very productive. Why? Because productive conflict, when focused on ideas, values, and issues, represents an open exchange of ideas. Everyone can present differing viewpoints and opinions. Working together, the JHSC can come to an agreement that satisfies everyone.

Although conflict can be productive, it is important that the JHSC doesn't get weighed down by it

Using Conflict Strategically

When it comes to your workplace JHSC, always agreeing may not always be a positive. It may indicate stagnation or complacency among JHSC members. Therefore, some degree of conflict is necessary to keep your JHSC operating at peak efficiency. That doesn’t mean that arguing, name-calling, or personal attacks are encouraged. It means that the JHSC members feel supported in sharing different ideas, viewpoints, and opinions to push them toward their highest potential as an advisory body. 
 

How to Agree

Even though conflict can be productive, it’s important that JHSC doesn’t get weighed down by it. When the JHSC doesn’t agree, have some strategies on hand to ensure that disagreements are settled respectfully and productively to maintain peak efficiency.​

Set Ground Rules:
Set ground rules for conflict. They may include:
 

• No personal attacks
• Every has a chance to speak
• Members must allow the speaker to finish before asking questions or offering comment
• When no agreement can be reached, an expert may be consulted

 
Take a Vote:
Most matters can be settled with an old-fashioned vote. It is important to note that if your committee decides to use a vote to settle a disagreement, they should agree that the results will be final. 

Put it in Perspective:
When the JHSC doesn’t agree, subscribe to a scale. For example, many people disagree with many things, but they can still accept and live with them. In the case of a disagreement, pose the question to members: even if you disagree with the course of action, can you live with it? In most cases, the answer will be yes.
 
Get More Information:
Sometimes, a disagreement arises because vital information is missing. If you’ve tried everything and the group still can’t agree, it may be that there just isn’t enough information available to make an informed decision. Review the information you have, and if it’s determined that more information would be helpful in agreeing, assign a member to get the information.
 
Look at What Worked Before:
When the JHSC doesn’t agree about to proceed, look back at previous successes. Is there anything in those successes that can be re-used to solve the current disagreement? This doesn’t mean you have to do things the way they’ve always been done, or that you can never try anything new. Looking back is simply another method of collecting data. 

If you’ve tried everything and the group still can’t agree, it may be that there just isn’t enough information available to make an informed decision

Trust MidSouthWest Training and Consulting

Training is key when it comes to having an effective and efficient JHSC. When all members are trained, they have a basic health and safety foundation of knowledge and are better equipped to make decisions that benefit works and the organization.
 
MidSouthWest Training and Consulting provides JHSC training in association with Langlois Safety Training and Consulting Services, an approved CPO Provider. We offer in-house and on-site JHSC Part One, Part Two, and Refresher training. You can trust MidSouthWest Training and Consulting to provide you with cost-effective training solutions tailored to meet your organization’s unique health and safety needs. 

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To learn more, contact us online or call 289.309.1143. Visit us 24/7 on the web at midsouthwest.ca.

​Last updated November 23, 2020