Conflict management: Keep disagreements healthy and productive

Abstract

In today’s workplace communication is key, collaboration crucial and teamwork a top management buzzword. And rightly so, for these facets encourage knowledge sharing, co‐operation and a joint sense of purpose. However, such an increase in interpersonal relationships all too often creates an unwanted and often unmanaged side effect: conflict. It is estimated that over 65 percent of performance problems do not result from lack of skill or motivation but from strained relationships. Senior managers who are used to merely tolerating their peers are suddenly being asked to collaborate and co‐ordinate with other departments, a process that inevitably leads to the odd clash of minds or parting of views. And whilst disagreement, debate and questioning is the sign of a healthy organization, prolonged arguments and inter‐departmental feuding are destructive activities that help no one.

Citation

(2003), "Conflict management: Keep disagreements healthy and productive", Development and Learning in Organizations, Vol. 17 No. 3, pp. 23-26. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777280310795784