Have you ever faced issues because of miscommunication at work? Has it ever been difficult for you to get along with someone because they have a different point of view? Or has a project gotten delayed because one of your teammates did not complete their work? The above mention situations are work conflict examples that you may face while interacting with people at the office. If you are in a difficult position and need a solution you have come to the right place. We have some simple ideas of work conflict resolution examples.

  Conflict at work is very common. It can arise out of differences in views, interests, and even principles. We need to handle conflicts carefully as some matters can be sensitive. People often find it difficult to handle these situations because some people may feel hurt.

When you understand the different types of work conflict, you can handle them better. Long-term conflicts can hamper not only relationships between teammates but also day-to-day work. One of the most important aspects of dealing with these issues is work conflict resolutions. We have prepared a list of common work conflict examples along with their solutions.

Conflict of Ideas

This is one of the classic work conflict examples found at the workplace. At work, you will interact with people who are similar to you and who are different. When you work in a team, you will come across people with different viewpoints. Hence, when discussing ideas, two people may have two different opinions. If each person feels their view is right, conflict of ideas arises.

Here are some work conflict resolution tips for you to follow in such a situation. First and foremost, you need to stay calm. Secondly, focus on working together by reminding teammates of the goal. Thirdly, make a list of points that the team agrees and disagrees on. Fourthly, listen to the viewpoints from both sides. Lastly, clear any miscommunication and answer any questions. With the help of this activity, teammates will understand each other and work together.

Unfairness as Work Conflict Examples

Many people who work in a group may feel they are not treated well. In other words, they feel the treatment is unfair. This could be due to their age, sex, race, caste or even education. Some examples of work conflict due to unfairness are-

• Work taken away from you
• Denying an opportunity for promotion or training
• Teammates not talking to you.

It is important to address this issue as soon as it arises. You need to handle the issue with respect and care. If you or a person around you faces these types of work conflict examples, speak to your boss. If you are a boss and need to handle this situation, here is what you can do.

• Listen to the victim
• Take the issue seriously
• Keep the complain private
• Investigate the issue
• Keep a record of all findings
• Discipline the person if found guilty.

Different Work Styles

Everyone has a different style of working. Some people like to work in groups while others work best when they are alone. When working on a task, some people need no instructions while others may need a lot of instructions. Hence, when people work in groups, different working styles may clash.

For example, one person will try to take all the duties, while another person may want to split the task in the group. Some may finish all the work quickly, while others may take time to do the same.

To understand work conflict resolution examples, you need to understand the different types of working styles. The best way to handle workplace conflicts such as these is to encourage people to focus on the bigger goals. Try to aim for a win-win situation, where they can cooperate with each other. Help the team understand each other and the different working styles.

Work Conflict Examples Due to Leadership Styles

Have you come across one team leader who is very strict and another leader who is friendly? What if your team leader was strict and did not take your views into consideration? Alternately, you may be a leader and find that your team is not cooperating with you. How do you feel?

Both these situations are examples of work conflict which arise out of different leadership styles. If there are two people in a group with different styles, conflicts may arise. A good way to find a resolution to such work conflict is mutual respect. Just because one person works in a particular way and someone else in another way does not mean they are right or wrong.

Apart from this, leaders should be aware of their own style and how they can make the best of it.

Work Conflict Examples Between Different Personalities

We all are different. This means that no two people are same. This also means that we may get along with some people and not get along with others. Remember, how we perceive people may not be how they are. When we meet different people at work we may or may not like some people.

Let us take some examples of work conflict because of different personalities. If you say “Hi” to a teammate, but they don’t respond. How do you feel? If you know the person well you may think they are busy with some work and didn’t see you. However, if you don’t know the person, you will feel they are arrogant or rude. Does this sound familiar?

The only resolution to work conflict examples such as these is understanding our thoughts. This means that some thoughts we have about others may not be true. Also, observe if you have any prejudice towards others. If at all you have felt bad due to the actions of others, it would make sense to talk to them.

While we have already discussed some strategies to deal with such conflicts. We will give you some general tips you can apply while interacting with people. As we have mentioned, conflict is a common part of life, at work or at home. So, we need some ways to resolve them. Here is a list.

• Listening without interrupting
• Ask open ended questions to understand people
• Take immediate action
• Be clear and to the point while talking to people
• Maintain eye contact
• Do not get emotional, stay calm
• Focus on the problem
• Don’t get irritated with people or blame them
• Find a solution to the problem

When we have to deal with conflict, we may feel varied emotions. However, as mentioned before, it is important to stay calm during such situations. So, if you want to learn ways to deal with your emotions during such situations check out our course on “Low self-esteem“.