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Benefits of Workplace Conflict

A Newsletter Valuing Change

Spring 2009

Benefits of Workplace Conflict

Positive outcomes result when you accept conflict and address it constructively. Workplace conflict, when handled appropriately, is necessary for keeping the peace, and is not detrimental.

Taking time to work through significant differences of opinion can lead to:

  • Better solutions to problems.
  • More cooperation among people as they learn more about one another.
  • Greater acceptance and understanding of others.
  • Higher team performance.
  • Greater innovation and new ideas.
  • Increased motivation because road blocks are removed.
  • Improved communication.
  • Improved working relationships.
  • Release of tension, anxiety and stress.
  • Clarification of important issues.
  • Completed group projects.

How do you respond to conflict?

What are your fears around conflict?

How can you overcome them?

Since conflict is unavoidable it's important to deal with it, not avoid it.

When faced with a difficult situation, treat each participant with respect, honesty, courage, trust, and openness. Limit your comments to the concepts, ideas, or behavior and do not engage in accusations, judgments, or personal attacks. Work with your coach on approaches to constructive conflict.

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Imagine Solutions

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Irene's Mission Statement
My mission is to help my clients realize their professional aspirations.

A Book Supporting Change

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable, by Patrick Lencioni, is a fictional approach, demonstrating how teams can function more effectively by overcoming five dysfunctions, and in particular their fear of conflict. He says that trust is the foundation upon which constructive conflict can flourish. "All great relationships… require productive conflict in order to grow."

Lencioni makes clear that destructive fighting and interpersonal politics are to be distinguished from productive ideological conflict. "Ideological conflict is limited to concepts and ideas, and avoids personality-focused, mean-spirited attacks."

Buy This Book From Amazon.com

"The most intense conflicts, if overcome, leave behind a sense of security and calm that is not easily disturbed. It is just these intense conflicts and their conflagration which are needed to produce valuable and lasting results." –Carl Jung

Personal Story

I have a coach in my Coaching Mastermind group that I highly admire and trust. One of the reasons (among many) for my great respect for her is her courage to stay with conflict when it arises between us.

We are very different in our personal styles and that leads to disagreement. But because we work through our differences, our relationship has become stronger and more trusting.

So I know firsthand the benefits that come from addressing difficult conversations. Our tough conversations, in which I needed to notice and resist my tendency to be defensive, led me to greater personal growth because her candor helped me understand my impact on people.

I then have the challenge of figuring out how to change my behavior. That's why I'm glad I have my business coach to work it out with.

Check out my recent publications:

End the Aging Process: Control Your Account Receivables Having a successful law practice includes getting paid promptly. There’s little point in working hard, being good and enjoying what you do, if in the end you have cash flow problems because of aging account receivables. This article provides pointers on how on to create a collection policy which will lead to a 100% collection rate of your accounts.

Delegating: An Essential Skill to Lighten Your Load The art of effective delegation is one of the most important skills a lawyer can learn and master to lighten their load and reduce feelings of being overwhelmed.

Your referrals are appreciated!

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