What Causes Conflict in the Workplace?

Conflict in the modern workplace is unavoidable. With technological glitches, miscommunications and conflicting egos, the typical office can be a hot-bed of tension. By understanding the various types of workplace conflict and their underlying causes, you’ll be able to tackle worker disputes with a sense calmness and professionalism.

Companies that are downsizing or undergoing a change in leadership are often rife with competition. Certain employees may be so desperate to prove their worth to the company, they’ll go out of their way to outshine colleagues and make them appear incompetent. Many of these employees fail to realize that the type of environment they’re creating is not conducive to good work. Workers being pitted against one another in such a manner can make group projects virtually impossible. To stomp out this problem, project heads need to make it clear that their groups function best as a team — regardless of the situation at the top.

With so many varieties of workplace conflict, it can be difficult to maintain a tension-free office environment. However, by keeping your ear to the ground and becoming aware of the signs, you’ll be able to stop employee disputes in their tracks. Have you encountered conflict in the workplace? Tell us all about it in the comments below or tweet @mscareergirl!