Conflicts in the Workplace: Sources & Solutions

Use this conflict management video to reduce workplace conflict and help employees learn conflict resolution skills that improve collaboration, compromise and creativity.

Constructive disagreement can add value, as employees compromise and reach better decisions based on input from others.

But conflict becomes destructive when anger, jealousy, and other strong emotions turn the focus away from problem solving and toward personal attacks. Destructive conflict can ruin relationships among workers, interfere with productivity, destroy teamwork, and contribute to employee absenteeism and turnover.

Conflict management training skills:

• Responding with empathy   
• Active listening   
• Setting a limit
• Finding something to agree with   
• Using “I” language instead of “You” language   
• Disengaging to cool off   
• Appealing to mutual self-interest   
• Attacking the problem, not the person

There will always be conflict. The secret is learning to manage it successfully. Doing so empowers you to take control of your life—and career.