Managing Workplace Conflict: Understanding the Eight Causes

Categories: High schoolPsychology

Upon entering the shared office with a coworker, it becomes apparent that today will bring additional obstacles.

Your workspace is very tidy and well-organized.

Although you try to be punctual and considerate by speaking softly on the phone at work, your colleague does not exhibit these traits. They are consistently tardy and speak loudly, causing disruptions in the work environment.

Despite the enjoyment of your job, the messy office filled with empty cups and dusty files on his side, along with his habit of arriving late, playing the radio loudly, and disrupting your focus make going to work a dreadful experience.

The strained relationship between you two leads to constant arguments.

Understanding the variations in how you and your colleague work can serve as a foundation for enhancing your teamwork.

Conflict in the workplace is a frequent occurrence that can actually lead to positive results such as fostering growth, improving communication, and generating innovative ideas. It is crucial to comprehend the root causes of conflict in order to successfully address and overcome it.

Get quality help now
Writer Lyla
Writer Lyla
checked Verified writer

Proficient in: High school

star star star star 5 (876)

“ Have been using her for a while and please believe when I tell you, she never fail. Thanks Writer Lyla you are indeed awesome ”

avatar avatar avatar
+84 relevant experts are online
Hire writer

Learn about the top eight causes of workplace conflict and effective strategies for managing them in this informative piece.

Information regarding the Eight Causes

Psychologists Art Bell and Brett Hart identified eight common causes of workplace conflict in separate articles published in 2000 and 2002.

The eight causes are:

  1. Conflicting resources.
  2. Conflicting styles.
  3. Conflicting perceptions.
  4. Conflicting goals.
  5. Conflicting pressures.
  6. Conflicting roles.
  7. Different personal values.
  8. Unpredictable policies.

By utilizing this classification, you can pinpoint potential reasons for conflict. Subsequently, you have the ability to proactively prevent conflicts from arising, or customize your conflict resolution approach according to the circumstances.

Get to Know The Price Estimate For Your Paper
Topic
Number of pages
Email Invalid email

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

"You must agree to out terms of services and privacy policy"
Write my paper

You won’t be charged yet!

Instructions for utilizing the tool are provided below:

Examine the eight causes of workplace conflict individually and explore strategies for prevention and resolution for each type, starting with conflicting resources.

Everyone requires access to specific resources, such as office supplies, assistance from coworkers, or meeting rooms, in order to effectively perform their job duties. Conflict can arise when multiple individuals or teams need access to the same resource.

When there are conflicts over resources in a group, using strategies such as Win-Win Negotiation or the Influence Model can assist in achieving a shared agreement. It is essential to offer team members the necessary support for their success by providing direction on time management and resource distribution, along with coaching on effective negotiation abilities, to avoid future disputes.

It is advisable to convene both parties involved in a resource conflict for an open discussion. This allows them to delve into the reasons behind their conflicting needs, gain insight into each other's perspective, and develop greater empathy towards one another's needs.

2. Different Styles

It is crucial to acknowledge that people have different work styles based on their individual needs and traits. Some perform well when faced with urgent tasks, while others need firm deadlines to succeed. However, conflicts can occur when these divergent approaches clash in a professional setting.

When forming a team, it is important to consider the working styles and group roles of individuals in order to prevent and address team conflict. One effective method is by having team members take a personality test like the Myers-Briggs Personality Test. This can assist them in recognizing and accepting diverse working styles, ultimately enhancing flexibility within the team.

There are varying viewpoints on this issue.

When each person sees the world through their own lens, disagreements can arise when one has information that the other does not realize.

Conflicting perceptions within a team, such as "turf wars" or gossip, can lead to issues. This can also manifest in negative performance reviews and customer complaints.

Strive to resolve conflicts by maintaining open communication with your team, even when delivering negative news. The more transparent you are with your team, the lower the chances of them creating their own assumptions about the situation.

Differing viewpoints can often lead to office politics. For example, when you give a project to someone who isn't usually responsible for it, you might accidentally spark a competition between team members. It's important to understand office politics and teach your team how to navigate them effectively.

4. Conflicting Goals

Conflicting goals can occur in the workplace when one manager prioritizes quick customer service and another focuses on providing detailed, top-notch service. Finding a middle ground between these conflicting priorities can be difficult.

It is important to ensure that the goals set for your team members align with other goals. If there are any uncertainties or conflicts in your own goals, it is recommended to have a discussion with your supervisor to establish mutually agreed upon goals.

Teamwork is essential in the professional environment, as we often depend on our coworkers to finish assignments. This can lead to difficulties, like when you need a report from a colleague by noon, but they are busy working on another report for someone else that is also due at the same time.

Conflicting pressures are similar to conflicting goals, but the difference is that conflicting pressures typically involve immediate tasks, while conflicting goals are more related to long-term projects.

To ease tension caused by conflicting short-term goals, consider adjusting the timing of tasks and deadlines.

Occasionally, we may need to take on tasks that are not part of our usual job duties. When this happens, it can lead to conflicts and power struggles if we encroach on someone else's responsibilities. The same holds true when the situation is reversed.

There are times when we might think that a certain task should be done by someone else.

Similar to conflicting perceptions, conflicting roles arise when team members see a task as their responsibility or territory, leading to conflict when someone else takes over.

If you believe there is tension among team members regarding their responsibilities, clarify the reasoning behind delegating tasks or projects to each individual. Providing this explanation may help alleviate any stress.

Utilizing a Team Charter can help clarify individuals' roles and duties, as well as direct everyone's attention towards goals.

7. Various Personal Beliefs

Do you obey your boss's commands even if they conflict with your beliefs, or do you refuse? If you opt to refuse, could it harm your boss's confidence in you or result in job termination?

Conflict can easily occur when our professional responsibilities clash with our personal beliefs.

To avoid this problem with your team, exhibit ethical leadership by not assigning tasks that go against the values of you or your team members.

The article offers advice on managing conflicts that can occur when you are in a situation that goes against your values, helping you uphold your integrity.

8. Policies that are unpredictable

Failure to clearly communicate changes in rules and policies at work can lead to confusion and conflict within your team.

Consistently applying workplace policies to all team members is important in preventing discord. Communication is key when changes are made to rules and policies within the workplace - ensure that the reasons for these changes are clearly explained to increase acceptance among employees.

It is important to have rules that are consistently enforced.

Tip:

While Bell and Hart's Eight Causes of Conflict framework is helpful for identifying common workplace conflict triggers, it fails to address conflict resolution strategies. Therefore, it is essential to also be knowledgeable on effective conflict resolution techniques.

Key Points

Psychologists Art Bell and Brett Hart pinpointed eight reasons for conflict in the early 2000s.

The eight causes are:
1. Conflicting resources.
2. Conflicting styles.
3. Conflicting perceptions.
4. Conflicting goals.
5. Conflicting pressures.
6. Conflicting roles.
7. Different personal values.
8. Unpredictable policies.

Updated: Feb 21, 2024
Cite this page

Managing Workplace Conflict: Understanding the Eight Causes. (2016, Mar 04). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/post-high-school-plan-essay

Managing Workplace Conflict: Understanding the Eight Causes essay
Live chat  with support 24/7

👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!

Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.

get help with your assignment