Manage Conflict at Work by Identifying the Caus

Manage Conflict at Work by Identifying the Cause

We’ve all experienced conflict at work. Most of us get a sinking feeling (“Uh oh, we’re in a fight” or “She’s definitely mad at me”) and we usually do one of two things: either ignore the issue or confront the person. But this isn’t a productive or healthy way to address the problem. You have to pause to understand what’s at the root of the disagreement. 

There are four main types of conflict: relationship (a personal disagreement),

 task (disagreement over what the goal is), 

process (disagreement over the means or process for achieving a goal), and

 status (disagreement over your standing in a group). 

Thinking about these categories will help you figure out what’s actually happening when you get into a conflict—even when your disagreement doesn’t neatly fit into a bucket. Once you know what’s causing the problem, you can decide how to address it effectively.