Speak up sooner rather than later

Not every disagreement needs to turn into a conflict. Addressing it early can be a game-changer.

Two colleagues recently told me about a disagreement they had had about how much time should be devoted to a project that was in its early days. For one, there was no need to rush; for the other, on the contrary, they should get to work straight away in order to meet future deadlines. They started getting annoyed with one another, each of them digging in their heels.

And yet, they both wanted to do a good job. There was nothing personal about their disagreement. It was just that they had different perspectives, different ways of working and, above all, different priorities. An in-depth, honest conversation with a project manager quickly cleared the air, allowing both of them to move forward with no hard feelings.

During a talk I gave to an audience interested in finding out more about my role as Ombud at CERN, I was asked: “When is the right time to ask for help?” I replied that you can ask for help at any time, from your team, from your line management or from the support structures that are available to all CERN personnel. Dwelling on something somebody said, reading and rereading an email you receive or talking incessantly about something that’s happened to anyone who is willing to listen may be a sign that help is needed.

A simple misunderstanding or disagreement can be cleared up early on, either by addressing it yourself with tact or by enlisting the help of a supportive, ideally neutral, third party. Ignoring a conflict, or downplaying it while trying to resolve it, can be very costly. By nipping it in the bud, you can avoid awkwardness further down the line and save people from suffering in silence.

What would you do in this situation?

If you have a concern, are experiencing a conflict or are facing any other difficulty at work that is affecting you or others, contact the CERN Ombud promptly. Discussions with the Ombud are voluntary, informal, non-judgemental and confidential.

Thank you for reading, and see you soon,

Marie-Luce Falipou

The Ombud is available in Office 500/1-004 on the Meyrin site. To make an appointment, in person or online, contact the Ombud at ombuds@cern.ch.

To find out more, please visit the website https://ombuds.web.cern.ch