Workplace Conflict

Conflict such as criticism, contempt, and stonewalling can arise in other types of interpersonal relationships (Chapter 8) as well. Remember to use cooperative strategies (such as focusing on the issue and considering options and alternatives) to deal with these types of issues.

Today’s diverse workplace requires employees to be able to work with a variety of colleagues who may differ in culture, religion, race, ethnicity, age, gender, and sexual orientation (Lämsä & Sintonen, 2006). In addition, most jobs require employees to work in actual teams (Devine et al., 1999), which entails close interaction with others who have different personalities, ideas, interests, and goals. When people work closely together, conflicts may arise, which can have negative effects on performance, productivity, and the workplace climate (Kolb & Putnam, 1992). Although not all conflict is bad, if it is handled poorly it can foster tension and animosity. According to Gottman (1994), unconstructive reactions include the following:

What should you do if you are witness to these types of negative behaviors in an organization—or, worse, are dealing with them yourself? These tips may help you get past interpersonal conflict in a constructive way.