Conflict can be described as a major disagreement or opposing interests or ideas. Whenever people work together, conflict can most often be expected. Conflict is a normal and natural part of any workplace usually resulting from the differences in employees' personalities and values. . When it occurs, there is a tendency for morale to be lowered and a decrease in productivity. While conflict is a normal part of any organizational setting, the challenge of conflict comes from how you choose to deal with it. Masking, avoided or otherwise ignoring conflict will most likely fester and grow into bitterness, create withdrawal or cause discord and spitefulness within an organization. Addressing conflict in a timely manner is important to maintaining a healthy work environment. Believing that a conflict will simply disappear is an incorrect assumption to make because simple conflicts can grow into major problems if not dealt with appropriately. There are many causes or reasons for conflict in any work setting. Different communication styles can lead to misunderstandings between employees and or between employee and manager. Communication, more specifically, lack of or poor communication is in a lot of cases, is the root of the conflict. Think back on conflicts you have experienced over time, and it’s quite possible that many of them resulted from a lack of information, poor information, no information, or misinformation. Clear, accurate, and timely communication of information will help to lower both the number and severity of conflicts. Employees come from different backgrounds and experiences, which play a role in determining their personalities and the way they deal with certain issues. When employees fail or choose not to understand ... ... middle of paper ... ...conflict resolution processes is ultimately reliant upon the ability of all parties involved to understand the benefits of conflict resolution. Perhaps even more importantly, the desire to resolve the matter plays a huge part in conflict resolution. Follow up to make sure the solutions that have been put into place are working, and make adjustments if deemed necessary. This approach will show that you are listening create a dependable, effective and trusting work environment which can make future dealings with workers easier. References Littlejohn, S.W and Domenici, K (2007). Communication, Conflict, and the Management of Difference. Long Grove, IL. Waveland Press, Inc. Borisoff, D and Victor, D.A. (1997). Conflict Management: A Communication Skills Approach. Prospect Heights, IL. Waveland Press. Dana, D. (2000). Conflict Resolution. Madison, WI. McGaw-Hill.
Conflict Resolution: Understand to Achieve. Whenever people unite to work as a team for anything more than a brief duration, some conflict is normal, and should be expected (Engleberg, Wynn & Schutter, 2003). Because of the inevitability of conflict, being able to recognize, address, and ultimately resolve it is vitally important, since unresolved conflict may have undesirable effects, including reduced morale, or increased turnover (De Janasz, Dowd & Schneider, 2001). Just as conflicts within team environments vary, so do methods for resolving them.
Good communication has the ability to avoid conflict, as well as to resolve it. However, there are many ways in which an ongoing conflict can be resolved.
In several occasions, conflict occurs in the communication of one or two people. Several people have thought of conflict as cases involving pouring of furious anger in a communication process. Nonetheless, conflict is the misinterpretation of an individual’s words or values (Huan & YAzdanifard, 2012). Conflict can also be due to limited resources in an organization (Riaz & Junaid, 2010). Conflict may as well arise due to poor communication or the use of inappropriate communication channel of transmission of information between the involved parties. Management of conflict has various conflict management styles that include avoidance style, forcing style, passive-aggressive style, accommodating style, collaborating style and compromising style. Workplace conflict comes in two different kinds: task involving conflict, which focuses on the approaches used in resolving the problem and blaming conflict that has the aspects of blame and never brings element of resolving problems between the conflicting parties. In the perception of several individuals, relationship conflict is negative.
Abigail, R. A., & Cahn, D. D. (2011). Managing conflict through communication. 4th Ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Hocker & Wilmot, 2007, Poole, & Stutman, 2005 Folger and 2007 Cahn& Abigail. "Interpersonal Conflict and Conflict Management." Devito, Joseph A. The Interpersonal Communication Book. Boston: Pearson, Allyn & Bacon, 2009. 276.
Conflicts arise when people’s interest, values, actions, views or expectation come into contact and there is a difference of opinion and thus a disagreement (Conerly, 2004). The way people view the conflict will determine whether the resolution will negative or positive consequences.
McKenna, Stephen (1995, July). The business impact of management attitudes towards dealing with conflict. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 22(6).
Conflict is inevitable in almost any situation. In the real world, “whether we like it or not, organizations are filled with independent” individuals who have an opinion, and most people will voice it (Colquitt 422). When there are conflicts in the workplace, leaders must use their powers to maintain control and influence tactics to deal with conflict. “Dealing with Conflict in the Workplace” by Tom Fox is an article focuses on how a leader can resolve these issues the best way possible, and we will also provide some other methods suggested by Colquitt who is the author of our textbook for the class.
Many people enjoy working or participating in a group or team, but when a group of people work together chances are that conflicts will occur. Hazleton describes conflict as the discrepancy between what is the perceived reality and what is seen as ideal (2007). “We enter into conflicts reluctantly, cautiously, angrily, nervously, confidently- and emerge from them battered, exhausted, sad, satisfied, triumphant. And still many of us underestimate or overlook the merits of conflict- the opportunity conflict offers every time it occurs” (Schilling, nd.). Conflict does not have to lead to a hostile environment or to broken relationships. Conflict if resolved effectively can lead to a positive experience for everyone involved. First, there must be an understanding of the reasons why conflicts occur. The conflict must be approached with an open mind. Using specific strategies can lead to a successful resolution for all parties involved. The Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument states “there are five general approaches to dealing with conflict. The five approaches are avoidance, accommodation, competition, compromise, and collaboration. Conflict resolution is situational and no one approach provides the best or right approach for all circumstances” (Thomas, 2000).
Make conflict work. (2008, May 24). Winnipeg Free Press, G.1. Retrieved March 14, 2015, from ProQuest Central database. (Document ID: 1485216051).
Differences within the team are the major reason for conflict. This stems from differences in opinion, attitude, beliefs, as well as cultural back grounds and social factors. The Conflict can be positive which is functional and supports or benefits the organization or a person’s main objectives (Reaching Out, 1997). Conflict is viewed as positive when the conflict results in increased involvement form the group, increased cohesion, and positive innovation and creativity. Conflict tends to be positive as well when it leads to better decisions, and solutions to long-term problems.
Thomas, K. W. (1992). Conflict and conflict management: Reflections and update. . Journal Of Organizational Behavior, 13(3), 265-274.
It is ideal for individuals to practice problem-solving because it is meant to satisfy the needs or desires of both parties. In a work environment, a person should take into consideration the outcome of certain behaviors that can affect their professional career and livelihood. Therefore, this conflict resolution style works to one's advantage as far as maintaining neutral relationships within a workplace and introducing approaches that accommodate everyone. Advancing one's professional career requires a positive reputation and demonstrating leadership skills. Then again, not all work environments allow people's problem-solving strategies to flourish. The conflict resolution style of smoothing becomes incorporated when workers are heavily concerned with maintaining their job. For this reason, it is beneficial to acknowledge and accept various points of view to move towards a consensus. However, it is a temporary fix for a problem that will eventually resurface to respond or push back against conflicting parties. Being a smoother usually strives to avoid conflict when an issue is not as important as the relationship. However, in a work environment when business needs to be handled becoming a problem-solver seeks to find a resolution for the
Borisoff, D., & Victor, D.A. (1998). Conflict Management: A Communication Skills Approach (2nd Ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
Let employees at all levels of your organization know that their voices will always be heard, and respond promptly and reasonably to employees’ issues. This can prevent bad feelings from festering and growing into resentment and bitterness. Conflict is best handled quickly and openly. (Ingram, n.d.)