The word ‘conflict’ often has a negative connotation. The Oxford dictionary defines it as “a serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one.” When you look up ‘conflict’ in a thesaurus, the following synonyms can be found: battle, clash, competition, rivalry, and struggle.
So how then can conflict be turned into something positive? Especially in the workplace?
An article by MasterClass, an online education platform, says that conflict is inevitable and if approached correctly, it can make disagreements constructive and productive. The article pairs two contrasting concepts ‘positive conflict’ and states that “it can prompt employees to think differently about issues, ultimately improving workflow and workplace practices.”
Negative conflict on the other hand leaves things worse than before. “Instead of [problem-solving], the parties of a hostile conflict simply want to win, even if that means adverse outcomes for the organization,” states MasterClass.
Positive conflict is healthy. It encourages all sides to acknowledge different views and come to a place of mutual understanding. Plus, it enforces collaboration and leads to resolution quickly.
Further benefits of positive conflict include:
- Efficiency
- Trust
- Emotional intelligence
- Alignment within teams
- Better communication
Shayna Waltower from Business News Daily says that healthy conflict sparks creativity and forces teams to further examine, and solve, festering issues. “When goals or processes are unclear, employees may conflict with each other under the honest assumption that their way is the correct one,” Waltower says. “Clarifying expectations and preferred procedures can help [teams] understand exactly what they should be doing and how they can work alongside their colleagues harmoniously.”
And what can organizations do to ensure this happens?
Hiring and retaining the right people is key, as is giving everyone a chance to voice their ideas and concerns, says Waltower. “If you give everyone a chance to be heard, you’ll avoid triggering resentment.”
For employees, participating in positive conflict starts with active listening, agreeing on facts and working towards a compromise. MasterClass states that finding the root cause of the conflict can often simplify the problem, speed up resolution, and create a win-win outcome for everyone involved.
So, while conflict is unavoidable, it’s important to feed into the part of it that brings out positive outcomes, such as understanding, problem-solving and creativity. This can often bring out impactful change within teams, and organizations, and bring attention to issues that may have been overlooked. Resulting in a better and more efficient work environment.
