Five Causes of Conflict and How to Diffuse Them

By Jaime Heidel of www.CareerIntellegence.com


What Causes Workplace Conflict?

According to experts, the five main causes of workplace conflict are:

1. Poor Communication

According to Cheryl C. Jones, Chief Success Strategist of Simply The Best Results; the top cause of workplace conflict is poor communication.

For example, a manager may assume his subordinates understand what’s required of them. In so doing, he neglects to ask for feedback to clarify the employee’s knowledge or understanding. The employee doesn’t think to ask questions of the manager, either. This can result in frustration in the manager and confusion in the employee, creating a tense environment that can lead to conflict.

Poor communication also comes in to play when a decision is made by two people but not shared with all those who will be affected. This can result in surprise, confusion and frustration when news finally trickles down second-hand.

2. Unclear Expectations

Conflict in the workplace can also be the result of unclear expectations. A manager may believe she’s clearly communicated what she expects from her group but they have a completely different idea of what she expects of them


    3.  Personal Issues

Workplace conflict can also be the result of personal issues between coworkers. This may be the result of hurts, slights, rivalry or other conflict that has little to do with business goals or expectations.

Another component in this category is when personal issues from home directly affect the employee’s performance.

4. Generational or Personality Incompatibility

In most businesses, the workforce is diverse with employees ranging in age from 16-60 and beyond. This may cause a generational conflict that can make the workplace uncomfortable. For example, the 25-year-old “hipster” may talk in a way that seems too casual to the 60-year-old business veteran. This may result in a misunderstanding.

The conflict may also be the result of a simple personality clash. One employee’s behavior, speech or mannerisms may just rub her coworker the wrong way.

5. Stress of Competition

According to Dianne Crampton, Founder TIGERS Success Series, the stress of competition can cause workplace conflict. In a business where two departments are competing for budget needs, for example, it can cause a breakdown in communication and internal competition. It may also surface in “dog eat dog” behavior during competition for rewards, recognition and advancement.

The current economy also may be a contributing factor in workplace conflict. If there’s even a perceived idea that layoffs are on the horizon, competitive behavior for rewards can escalate into desperation to hold onto a job.