The interweaving of (1) the source of work-place conflict (The Who), (2) the triggers of work-place conflict (The What), and (3) the behaviors that are displayed when work-place conflict exists (The How) makes conflict resolution in the work-place a challenging and complex exercise.
THE WHO
Conflict emerges from many sources in a business environment, such as the following:
Lateral disputes between or among the leadership or owners
Vertical disputes between management and staff
Disputes among employees
Conflict with customers or clients
Disputes with outside contractors who provide goods or services
THE WHAT
The circumstances that generate conflicts in a business environment are numerous. Some of these circumstances include the following:
Differences in approach to projects
Employee absenteeism and tardiness
Change of leadership
Discrimination – overt or covert
Who gets what assignments
Promotions
Harassment
Who is invited to lunch
Personality differences
Detail vs big picture
People vs task
Communication style differences
Poor communication
Lack of information
Misinformation
Differing information goes to different employees
Values differences stemming from –
Generational differences
Cultural considerations
Competition for limited resources
Individual vs team goals
Employee’s personal problems affecting work-place attitude and productivity
Performance reviews
Incompetent management
Bullying
Lack of supervision
External changes
Overall economy
Change of ownership or restructure
Differences in work ethic
Unhealthy competition
Technology changes
THE HOW
Some of the behaviors that employees display when embroiled in a conflict include the following:
Refusing to communicate
Backing into a single solution mindset
Going over the head of the manager
Gossiping
Recruiting others into conflict – creating morale problem
Refusing to take responsibility for actions or results
Higher absenteeism
If your business is experiencing unrest due to unresolved conflict, contact Keystone Conflict Solutions LLC at rebecca@kcsmediation.com or (404) 314-7228 to learn if Mediation or Conflict Management Consulting might be beneficial in creating a smooth and efficient operation.
