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Conversations are one of the best ways to mitigate psychosocial risk in the workplace, but some of the most effective approaches are often overlooked, a conflict expert says.

It's common knowledge that managers can mitigate the risks involved with raising a sensitive issue by putting themselves in the employee's shoes first; in the same way, employees would do well to consider their manager's perspective, says Lindall West, managing director of conflict support platform Ombpoint.

An employee might intend to simply tell their manager one of their ideas won't work, and to give their opinion about why; but if they first consider how they would feel if they were on the receiving end, they might broach the subject differently. The employee might, for example, start by expressing appreciation for the manager's intentions, before presenting their own perspective or suggestion...