Know the Types of Conflicts

In the previous article, we took a look at demystifying conflict. Conflict is neutral and common. You and I don't have to be surprised when conflict happens. To help us unpack conflict more, we will consider the types of workplace conflicts in an organization.

85% of employees deal with some degree of conflict at work. Managers lose 25% of their time mediating disputes.          

Intrapersonal conflict. As an individual, you have your thoughts, values, personality, priorities, and even way of working. Intrapersonal conflict takes place within yourself. You might sense it in how you feel or think about how something was done. Your body may also send you signals of situations or people that cause you to get tense, anxious, fearful, uncertain, feeling like an imposter, etc. Being self-aware of your thoughts and emotions will help you figure out what is causing the internal conflict.

Individual vs Team Conflict. This type of conflict is where one person disagrees with the working order of the entire team. It can also be a dispute between one team member and the leader. The danger of such disputes is that they can spread quickly through the team via word of mouth, creating 'camps' either for or against the individual or the leader. Work can stall or productivity drops as the rest of the team takes a 'wait-and-see' approach. Additionally, the leader may be tempted to become high-handed, using their power and authority to force compliance and to make a statement.

Interpersonal conflict. This is the conflict that takes place between individuals on how to achieve a certain goal. There are several sub-types of interpersonal conflict, based on perceived differences in achieving the desired goal. The sub-types include relationship conflict (a personal feeling of being disrespected by others), task conflict (what task should be done); process conflict (differences in the process or procedure to follow); and status conflict (conflict about who is in charge and who makes the decisions).

Peace is not the absence of conflict. It is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means (Ronald Reagan)

Interdepartmental conflict. In most organizations, it is common to find two or more departments relying on each other for information, skills or even responsibilities. Conflict between teams A and B can arise when there is miscommunication or misunderstanding on who does what by when. Resource allocation between the two teams can also create conflict. Sometimes the conflict might be between the managers of the teams and the team members get caught up in it. The subtypes of interpersonal conflicts such as relationship or status conflict may also be at play.

Interorganizational conflict. Similar to interdepartmental conflicts, inter-organizational conflicts happen when one organization relies on another for certain aspects of a common goal. Unfair or unhealthy competition between organizations can also create conflicts between organizations.

So, are you now able to identify what you might be dealing with? Which one it is? Let me know in the comments below.

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