Workplace Conflict: Understanding its Causes and How To Resolve it Effectively
Conflict in the workplace is inevitable. With diverse personalities, goals, and communication styles, misunderstandings and disagreements are bound to arise. Workplace conflict can range from minor miscommunications to full-blown disputes that affect team dynamics and productivity. When left unresolved, it creates a toxic environment, lowers morale, and hinders collaboration. But with the right mindset and tools, workplace conflict can be navigated constructively.
Common Causes of Workplace Conflict
Several factors contribute to workplace conflict, including:
- Miscommunication – Poor communication or unclear expectations can lead to misunderstandings, frustration, and mistakes.
- Personality Clashes – People have different work styles, values, and temperaments, which can sometimes create friction.
- Competing Priorities – Conflicts often arise when team members or departments have differing goals and feel their priorities are not being acknowledged.
- Resource Limitations – Scarcity of resources, such as budget, time, or staffing, can cause tension between colleagues or departments.
- Lack of Psychological Safety – When employees fear speaking up due to potential backlash, passive-aggressive behavior or unresolved resentment can build up.
The Case of Clashing Priorities
Emma and James worked on the same project team but had very different approaches. Emma, detail-oriented and meticulous, wanted to ensure every aspect of the project was perfect before moving forward. James, on the other hand, valued speed and efficiency, believing that meeting deadlines was the top priority. Their differences led to ongoing friction—Emma saw James as careless, while James viewed Emma as slow and overly critical. Their unresolved conflict began affecting team morale, as meetings became tense, and collaboration suffered.
What you can do starting today
Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) provides a framework to address workplace conflict by focusing on identifying irrational beliefs, challenging them, and adopting healthier perspectives. Here are three ways to apply REBT to resolve workplace conflict:
Challenge Irrational Beliefs About Others
- Often, workplace conflicts are fueled by rigid, irrational beliefs such as “They must work the way I do” or “If they don’t agree with me, they’re being difficult.”
- Instead, replace these thoughts with rational alternatives like “People have different work styles, and that’s okay” or “Disagreements don’t mean they are against me.”
Reframe the Conflict as a Problem to Solve
- Instead of viewing conflict as a personal attack or an insurmountable problem, see it as an opportunity to find solutions.
- In Emma and James’ case, they could acknowledge their different approaches and find a middle ground that balances quality with efficiency.
Develop Emotional Resilience
- Workplace conflicts can trigger frustration, resentment, or stress. By practicing emotional regulation techniques like cognitive reframing, mindfulness, or rational self-talk, employees can respond calmly rather than react impulsively.
- Asking questions like “Is my reaction helping or making things worse?” and “What’s the most constructive way to address this?” can lead to more productive interactions.
Workplace conflict is natural, but it doesn’t have to be destructive. By understanding its causes, challenging irrational beliefs, and approaching disagreements with a problem-solving mindset, individuals can transform workplace tension into opportunities for growth and collaboration. Using REBT principles, employees can cultivate healthier responses to conflict, leading to a more psychologically safe and productive work environment.
