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Productive conflict

13 sections · 10 pts/section
Section 1 / 13

Most of us fear a fight — but fights are everywhere

Two coworkers want different plans. Each thinks theirs is better.

They argue about which way to go. That argument is a conflict.

conflict
When two people want different things and bump into each other over it.

Most people hope to dodge conflict. But it shows up anyway.

Your guess

Out of every 100 workers, how many run into conflict at their job?

It also takes real time. US workers spent about 2.8 hours a week on it.

Conflict is an inevitable part of working life. What matters is how it is handled.CPP Global Human Capital Report, 2008

So conflict is not a sign that something is broken. It is normal.

“We never argue, so our team is healthy.”Tap to reveal

This looks true because quiet seems like peace. But two people can disagree and stay silent. The clash is still there, only hidden. No arguing does not always mean no conflict.

Teams differ in one way. Some handle conflict well. Some handle it badly.

So a new question opens up. Not how to dodge a fight, but how to do one well.

Sources

  • CPP Global Human Capital Report, 2008
  • Buster Benson, Why Are We Yelling? (2019)
  • Jehn, Administrative Science Quarterly, 1995
  • Jehn (1995), Administrative Science Quarterly
  • The Gottman Institute
  • Buster Benson, Why Are We Yelling?
  • John Gottman & Robert Levenson, longitudinal couples studies