Positive & Negative Conflicts in the Workplace
Where there are people, conflict often exists. People disagree for a variety of reasons. Many business leaders try to minimize workplace conflicts to promote a positive corporate culture with high team morale. While conflict is usually seen as negative, business leaders should consider that there are positive aspects of conflict that improve work environments and productivity.
Positive: Debating Pros and Cons of Ideas
When team members feel confident that their ideas are respected, they are willing to share them freely, which creates an environment where brainstorming meetings become opportunities to discuss all aspects of different ideas. There is no judgment for even the zaniest of ideas. This approach serves as fuel for the entire creative process.
Managers may need to learn how to foster a debating environment to get everyone participating. Some team members are naturally drawn to speak while others may shy away from sharing, especially if their ideas are not mainstream. Managers can effectively facilitate brainstorming and debate sessions by systematically asking each team member to speak, limiting the time for everyone to present an idea, and then summarizing each idea in positive manager to ensure understanding.
Negative: Petty Arguments
Petty arguments lead to high tensions in workspaces. Arguments might be over something as minor as someone eating another's lunch or stealing a parking space. While the occasional minor quibble isn't overly concerning, managers need to have a process in place to ensure overall morale doesn't diminish. It isn't just the two parties arguing that are affected. If tensions continue to rise, everyone feels it. People might take sides or feel pressure to appease one party or another to reduce the tension.
Positive: Employee Feedback and Reviews
Many employees feel that reviews and customer feedback are wrought with negativity. This doesn't need to be the case. Providing employees with constructive ways to improve and meet their own personal and professional goals is not only positive, it is also valuable to business owners. When employees feel the boss is invested in their goals and growth, employees are more likely to buy into the overall vision of the company. Employees feel like they are working toward something not merely working for someone.
Employee reviews should be a mix of measuring performance standards, constructive criticism and acknowledgment of things done well. They should also engage employees with active dialogue and feedback. A two-way dialogue gives employees a voice that can lead to better processes and improved skills.
Negative: Vocally Disagreeing With Leadership
Great business leaders develop a company culture where employees embrace the mission, vision and goals of the company. People may not always agree with some of the decisions made, but when someone becomes negative and hostile toward the direction of the company, it can become cancerous throughout the organization. Telling customers that things should be done differently or constantly bad-mouthing managerial directives isn't productive. Managers need to open dialogue with those who disagree at this level and allow them to voice opinions openly in a private manner. Should this type of conflict continue or escalate, managers need to determine if the employee is still a good fit for the company.
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Writer Bio
With more than 15 years of small business ownership including owning a State Farm agency in Southern California, Kimberlee understands the needs of business owners first hand. When not writing, Kimberlee enjoys chasing waterfalls with her son in Hawaii.