When something goes wrong for you online, it could very quickly spiral out of control. The first step to resolving conflicts online is to identify the cause(s) or source of the clash. By digging deep and defining individual causes, you may be able to resolve the differences before they escalate any further.
When you encounter conflicts in a face-to-face environment, you can simply go into that person’s office, have a talk, hash out the matter and then forget about. But how do you handle it when it is online and the person that is causing the stir is hiding behind the computer screen? How do you de-escalate the conflict before it is blown out of proportion?
The following tips for responding to online conflicts will help you manage your online reputation and perhaps salvage your relationship with the upset party.
Think Before You Act:
You may feel tempted to reply to a comment with a harsh statement, but you have to resist the urge. Take the time to understand the other side and the other person’s opinion. Only when you’ve composed your thoughts, you should respond. If you’re unsure about what to write, hire an online reputation management company to help you with the message.
Encourage setting up an in-person meeting:
The only way to resolve a conflict permanently is through an open discussion in person. If that is impossible to do, try to set up a meeting over the phone or via Skype. Think of a scenario in which you can further study the voice, tone, and body language of the person that is not happy with you.
Use Humor to Engage:
You can avoid escalating a confrontation by communication in a humorous way. Humor is one way of expressing something within creating a flap. Important thing to remember is to laugh with the other person and not at them.
Know when to let things go:
If you cannot come to an understanding, then it’s best that you learn to agree to disagree. The audit of messages and comments will speak for themselves – showing others your willingness to resolve the conflict.
This list is by no means exhaustive. There are many other ways to manage your online reputation and to resolve online conflicts in an elegant manner. The important thing to remember is to remain calm, professional and always be respectful of others and their opinions.
By Alex Noudelman, Digital Marketing Strategist at iRISEmedia
