Making Sense of Conflict in the Workplace

People find themselves butting heads and having disagreements in a wide variety of contexts and for many different reasons. The workplace isn’t exempt from conflict, and it’s helpful to know why conflict occurs and how to approach it well.

Why Conflict At Work Occurs

Wherever there are two or more human beings, the potential for conflict exists. Conflict is when there is a disagreement or an argument between two or more people in a given situation. Usually, what lies behind conflict is that people have needs, wishes, interests, drives ambitions, beliefs, or demands placed on them that are incompatible with those of others, or that are being impinged upon in some way.

In the workplace, conflict can take place between management and the employees. The management might be more interested in the bottom line than in the workers, pushing them beyond their limits, which affects the workers’ well-being.

Conflict can be between colleagues who are vying for the same promotion or benefits. Conflict can also occur because of different ideologies or attitudes toward the work, or due to offensive language or disrespect.

In other cases, conflict can occur because one party feels as though they are being placed under enormous pressure and with inadequate time or resources to deliver. An unhealthy workplace culture can also create an environment in which workmates and management become antagonistic toward one another. Issues such as favoritism, overly harsh reprimands, and low or unequal remuneration can also be the cause of workplace conflict.

Conflict in the workplace can occur for all these reasons, and it can also occur because of poor communication. A poorly communicated directive can cause confusion between departments, for instance. If stakeholders aren’t adequately consulted or informed of changes, that too can cause confusion and frustration for employees, management, as well as clients. The resultant friction can cause conflict to erupt.

The Effects of Conflict in the Workplace

When conflict at work occurs, it can have many different effects. For one thing, it can affect the cohesion of the team or workforce. Work is hard enough by itself without adding the various interpersonal dynamics that can make it even more complicated to navigate. When the team isn’t working together well, it can have several effects such as:

Lowered productivity and profitability If people aren’t working together well, it’s easier for them to look out for themselves and not each other. Conflict can sometimes spiral out of control and end with colleagues sabotaging each other or the employer out of anger or the desire for revenge. This can affect the quality of the product as well as the overall efficacy of the team.

Low morale Work takes up a huge chunk of a person’s life, and if the workplace becomes a site of conflict, it means most of their day is taken up navigating conflict. That can result in low morale, but also in health challenges stemming from stress. This can in turn result in increased absenteeism as well as a higher turnover in personnel.

In some cases, workplace conflict can even result in violence, which affects the well-being of everyone in the organization.

Overcoming Conflict in the Workplace

Conflict in the workplace, like conflict in other situations, is often the result of poor communication, and not managing differences in perspectives well. Conflicts arise as a result of priorities, assumptions, and perspectives that are held by individuals in a given organization, and that are either not communicated well or aren’t managed well.

It is easy for people to misinterpret the intentions of others as well as fail to grasp the importance of certain values that help the organization function well with a unified sense of purpose. Workplace conflict can be managed and minimized in several ways, including the following:

Dealing with conflict promptly Conflicts sometimes get worse simply because they’ve been allowed to simmer and have gone unaddressed. Ill feelings grow and a sense of grievance grows with them, making resolution of the issue more complicated. It’s important not to ignore conflict, and to address it at the first sign.

Sharing accountability Part of the work culture of the organization should be that it’s the responsibility of all employees, and not just management, to be accountable for dealing with conflict. Employees must thus strive to resolve the conflict themselves, with the understanding that management can step in to help if they can’t reach a resolution.

Making policies clear and applying them consistently One of the key areas of conflict stems from not knowing what’s happening and what is expected. Clear communication of policies, goals, expectations, and values can help reduce conflict that often arises from confusion and lack of clarity.

People are people regardless of the context. We make mistakes, and we need to be forgiven for the ways we harm each other. Learning respect for one another and being able to value differences as a source of strength can help in dealing with conflict as well as promote a healthier work culture. If you’re dealing with workplace conflict, you can seek help from your superior, and perhaps also from a professional counselor.

A professional counselor in Culver City, California can provide you with a safe space to unpack what’s happening in your workplace without fear of reprisals or complicating your workplace relationships. Your counselor at Culver City Christian Counseling in California can walk with you to understand the dynamics behind the conflict, as well as help you develop your conflict resolution and communication skills.