If you ask anyone who’s ever worked a job, they’ll tell you that one of the most frustrating things to have happened to them is to have something go wrong. Whether things at work go awry or you simply run into people you don’t agree with, things that can go wrong do eventually go wrong.

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Like family, you can’t pick and choose these battles, but you can change how you react to these issues. Sometimes, you will end up butting heads with other people and clashing with those with different ideas. In times like this, take a few moments to reflect on these helpful tips, and maybe you won’t feel so frustrated all the time.

Reflect on the situation 

The first thing to do in any conflict is to always take a moment to reflect on the situation. In the heat of the moment, it’s easy to get ahead of yourself and lose track of the issue, especially when tempers flare or issues are particularly bad.

When any issues arise, always try and take note of the situation in its entirety. Take a few steps back. These types of conflict can happen outside your control, but it doesn’t help if you’re overreacting or stressing over them. Take the scope of the situation and solve it head-on.

Focus on What You Can Change

While it might feel frustrating, it’s best not to think about things you have no control over. The what-ifs and what-could've-been are impossible to change, and stressing over them can be very unhealthy for you.

Instead, change your viewpoints, look at the things you have control over, and analyze what steps you can take to reduce the problem at hand. You’ll find it a lot easier for yourself and for your psyche if you just concentrate on the factors you can change.

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Brainstorm Different Solutions

When mulling over what steps you can take, think of different ways to solve the current conflict. Having different solutions at hand will make listing your options easier and help you long-term when you must implement them. Having multiple options will make you more flexible in approaching problems and avoid committing to long-term answers.

Consider Opposing Viewpoints 

So you’ve mulled the problems over. Did you take into account the other person’s perspectives when these things happen? Did you look at these problems from another point of view?

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This might seem silly, but approaching things from a different point of view may give you new perspectives on how to handle your current problems. Maybe it’ll change how you view things; maybe it was never a problem to begin with. Regardless, just having the ability to second-guess yourself will prove useful in the long run.

When All Else Fails, Compromise 

If there are no alternative ways around the problem, learn how to compromise. The people around you don’t like the issue, same as you. Learning how to take these on the chin will keep everyone’s morale up. It’ll help avoid future conflicts should they come up once again and will make you easier to approach, especially if you’re able to leave every party satisfied. After all, the one thing people love is a mediator. Mediate away!

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Record Everything

Above all else, be sure to make a log of what happened. Keep on top of things. If things go sour and your solutions don’t work, having documentation will help you reevaluate just how things went wrong. It’s only by doing this can truly prevent repeat mistakes from happening. Remember, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Give yourself the advantage, and stop yourself from making the same mistake twice!

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These are a few of the things you can try doing to overcome common workplace issues. If these tips have been helpful, consider checking out our LinkedIn, where we aim to help aspiring developers find their own place in the industry.

This article was written by Alexander Cuaycong.