Level 1 EMPLOYER: Identifying The Types of Conflict Occurring Specifically In Your Workplace

Now that you understand the types of conflicts that generally occur at the workplace, how do you identify the types of conflicts that are occurring in your specific organization?  By taking the time to do this, you are ensuring that you will be  utilizing the appropriate conflict resolution techniques for your situation. 

Though it is not difficult, it will require some time and effort to compile the information needed to get a clear picture of  your organization's 'conflict health'. For those who are familiar with accounting, think of it as putting together a balance sheet for your financials. The steps are as follows:

1. Use your data gathering skills to try to figure out whether or not most of the conflict in your organization is based on task or personal disputes.

1. Gather data by having as many managers and employees fill out the workplace conflict questionnaire.
2. If you have a system of keeping track of informal disputes within your organization, try to answer the following questions:

• Are the most common disputes very emotional or not?
• What characteristics do people who most often find themselves in conflict have in common?
• How frequently do disputes and complaints occur?
• Has there always been the same amount and frequency of disputes and complaints in your workplace?
• If not, since when did the frequency start to rise or drop?
• Do you foresee regulatory,organizational, or legal changes that will affect the frequency of disputes?
• What is your view on the cause ofconflict?

Though it is important for you to get an overview of the disputes that commonly occur in your organization, you still have to mindful of dealing with the workplace conflict issues that you are currently facing. Use your observational skills to find out what is really the driving force behind the dispute. 

·         Are the emotional reactions of the participants on par with the seriousness of the  situation?

·         Do both parties want to win only at the other’s expense? 

·         Are the participants displaying a lack of trust or respect for each other? 

Answering the above three questions in the affirmative is usually a clear sign that you are dealing with a personal dispute instead of a task conflict.

Once you figure out the types of conflicts your organization is dealing with, it is time to look at the types of solutions you have at your disposal. At Zen Workplace we are committed to providing you with as many tools as possible for this.  So let's start with the most basic conflict diffusion techniques. As a bonus, they are also easy to implement.

~Here is to Zen In The Workplace!