Recognizing Four Types Of Conflict In The Workplace

 

There are four types of conflict in the workplace. They are conflicted over tasks, conflict overpays, and conflict over beliefs. These types of conflicts can occur in all workplaces, but they tend to surface more at the start of a project or during a period of high stress. All four types of conflict in the workplace need to be identified and avoided. When these types of conflict appear in a workplace they can result in severe interruptions to the flow of work and increase the likelihood of mistakes and injuries.

The first of the four types of conflict in the workplace is conflict over tasks. This can be a very difficult conflict to overcome because there may not always be an easy way to define who gets the task done. In order to resolve this type of conflict, everyone has to have a good understanding of their own roles. Sometimes this conflict can be solved by giving each person an individual responsibility, such as having one person responsible for handling certain aspects of the project while delegating other tasks to others.

The next conflict type is conflict over wages. This can be very sticky because people often feel resentment when the circumstances of their jobs change. This is often the most difficult type of conflict to resolve because of its potential to affect the worker's self-esteem. Many employers have policies that give them the right to change the salary structure if an employee is having difficulty meeting their expectations. However, different types of situations may require different types of wage structures to accommodate for the situation. Changing the amount of the monthly payment as part of an overall wage increase is one option, but it must be carefully considered to ensure the stability of the company's finances.

Another of the four types of conflict in the workplace is conflict over beliefs. Here the employer usually believes that they have the correct beliefs and thoughts, while the employees question these ideas. This type of conflict often stems from the misunderstanding of the difference between a management position and the ranks of regular employees. Both of these positions have the ability to lead and manage employees. When the employees start feeling uneasy with their new managers, they are often upset enough to go on strike or engage in other activities that spread their dissatisfaction to other coworkers.

The last of the four types of conflict in the workplace is conflict over authority. Sometimes, this conflict arises from the boundaries of established authority. For example, when employees feel that their superiors are controlling their decisions or exercising power over them, they may often dispute this. They may even engage in resistance to authority figures in an attempt to assert their rights or freedom. This type of conflict can quickly escalate to a full-scale battle, if not properly handled. Handling this conflict through professional mediation can often avoid the potential for a full-scale conflict.

In addition to all of the conflicts that can occur in the workplace, many employees engage in passive resistance every day. They choose to ignore the conditions or policies set forth by management, choosing to work around the system instead. This type of resistance is not necessarily a form of rebellion against the employer, but rather a way of working within the workplace environment to make the most of the resources available. While it may seem like the ideal thing to do, ignoring management policy or procedure can have a negative impact on performance and create an unsatisfactory workplace environment. Therefore, it is often necessary for employees to seek conflict resolution in order to resolve this type of unprofessional conduct.

The last of the four types of conflict in the workplace is conflict over vision. This occurs when employees are divided between two conflicting views regarding what the company should look like or how it should function. Sometimes these types of conflicts are between individual leaders within a team or a group of leaders. Other times, however, these types of conflicts are the result of leaders aligning themselves with those with different visions. As such, conflict resolution professionals must seek to address the issues between these two groups in order to create an atmosphere of cooperation and creativity in the workplace. By encouraging compromise and communication, conflict resolution professionals can help to bring parties together so that they can form a sense of teamwork.

Each of the four types of conflict in the workplace can have a devastating effect on the productivity and the confidence of those who experience them. Thus, it is important for all individuals, past, present, and future, to be aware of the various conflict resolution strategies that can be employed in the workplace. By learning about these various conflict resolution strategies, individuals can use these strategies to overcome the negative effects that conflict can have on the workplace. Additionally, individuals can learn about the strategies that are appropriate to the type of conflict they are faced within the workplace. Armed with this knowledge, individuals will have the ability to effectively work through any type of conflict or problem in the workplace.