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What is Conflict in the Workplace?
Home » Management » Conflict in the Workplace » What is Conflict in the Workplace?A number of studies estimate that managers spend between 30 percent and 40 percent of their time each day tending to conflicts, whether between employees, employees and managers, between departments, or even between companies. This takes up too much of a manager’s time, wastes the time of those involved in the conflict, reduces company productivity, and harms company morale. Of course, when you’re working with people of so many varying backgrounds, beliefs, values, and responsibilities, it’s entirely normal that you’re going to face conflict from time to time.
A conflict exists whenever people’s ideas, choices, or actions clash or are in opposition to one another. A conflict doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing; disagreements happen and often bring up important points that need to be considered. And often a compromise occurs, which can be even better than having accepted just one of the original ideas. Even the process of working through a conflict can bring parties closer together, help them talk things through, and feel more invested in the company as a result.
Conflict can take shape for many reasons. These reasons include when two or more people disagree on ideas, information, theories, or opinions and are unable to reach a conclusion. Also, conflict occurs when a person receives new information that doesn’t seem to fit with what he or she already knows, or when two or more people have a conflict of interests, to name a few.
Personality clashes are another big reason for conflict, as are differences in generations. Personality clashes are rarely productive, often starting with a disagreement over business ideas and escalating to an intense dislike of one another that endures.
Whatever the cause of conflict in your office, know that unless handled appropriately, it is bad for business. It’s stressful, causes morale and productivity downturns, and sometimes affects all areas of life, including personal relationships.
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