Understanding Conflict in Workplace

• Conflicts arise when people work together and can stem from various sources.

Opposing Interests, Ideas, and Goals

• Conflicts occur when management at international headquarters implements new policies.
• Branch workers perceive these policies as inappropriate, conflicting with their own ideas and goals, causing dissatisfaction.
• These differences in opinion can cause confrontation within the team.
• A clash occurs when management believes new policies are crucial, but the branch finds them inappropriate.
• Opposing ideas can cause problems.

Clash of Different Personalities

• Frequent misunderstandings occur between two employees in management due to personality differences.
• One employee is open-minded but direct, and the other is insecure and perceives this directness as harsh.
• This clash leads to uncomfortable interactions and affects their work relationship.
• Misunderstandings can lead to a personality clash.
• An open-minded and direct manager clashes with an insecure colleague who perceives their directness as harsh, leading to misunderstandings.
• Situation: An insecure employee feels uncomfortable because of a disagreement with an open-minded manager.
• A clash of personalities can be the cause of problems.

Differences in Work Styles

• Difficulties arise within a team when members have different work styles.
• Some prefer to work in groups and immediately address issues.
• Others work best alone, finding constant interaction inappropriate and interrupting their work pace.
• Some address triggers immediately in groups, while others work better alone and find the group inappropriate and interrupting, leading to difficulties.
• *Situation:*Some members address triggers immediately in groups, while others work better alone and find the group inappropriate.
• Everyone has their own work style.

Different Work Pace

• Employees find the work pace stressful, while others feel a lack of challenge during challenging projects.
• This difference in work pace occurs because some team members are more familiar with the project.
• Some contribute more quickly, leading to dissatisfaction among those who need more time.
• Some employees find the work pace during challenging projects stressful, while others lack challenge, due to differing levels of familiarity.
• Situation: During a challenging project, some feel the work pace is stressful due to a lack of familiarity, while others feel no challenge.
• Some people have a faster work pace than others.

Jealousy and Envy

• Employees express jealousy because of perceived unfair treatment regarding rewards.
• Some believe that promotions and salary differences create envy.
• The perception of favoritism causes dissatisfaction and affects team morale.
• Some perceive unfair treatment and salary differences regarding rewards, breeding jealousy and envy.
• Situation: Jealousy and envy occur because of unfair treatment, which can cause dissatisfaction.
• Jealousy and envy can occur because of unfair treatment.

Inappropriate Leadership Style

• A supervisor's leadership style, perceived as harsh and inappropriate, causes dissatisfaction among team members.
• Employees feel uncomfortable and find it challenging to communicate openly.
• This perception leads to a feeling of insecurity.
• An inappropriate and harsh leadership style by a supervisor causes dissatisfaction among team members, creating discomfort and insecurity.
• Situation: Dissatisfaction arises because a leader's style is perceived as harsh, creating an uncomfortable and insecure working environment.
• The working environment is international.
• He has a special leadership style.

Causes of Conflict

• Conflicts have many causes.
• What was the trigger for this conflict?
• Unfair treatment can cause dissatisfaction.
• This behaviour may be perceived as inappropriate.

Actions to take

• Most people try to avoid conflicts.

Phrases for conflict resolution

• “I would like to discuss something with you. Can we fix a meeting?”
• “I need to address a rather unpleasant issue. Is now a good time for you?”
• "I have the feeling that something is not quite right these days. Is there anything you would like to tell me about?”
• "Thank you for being honest with me.”
• "Your comment on my work hurt me. Can you understand that?”
• "I’m sorry. I see how I have contributed to the problem.”
• “Yes, I can understand what you mean. That must be difficult for you.”
• "I understand your point of view, but I have a different opinion on this topic.”
• "I don’t think we can find a solution today, so let’s discuss this tomorrow.”
• "I think we should take a break and discuss this again when we have both cooled down a bit.”
• "How can we advance here? What kind of solution would you propose?”
• "Let’s see how we can prevent this from happening in the future.”
• "Would it help if we involved our manager?”
• “Let’s agree to disagree.”

New Vocabulary

• International (adj.): Relating to or involving several countries; it’s an international company.
• Headquarters (n.): The main office or center of operations for an organization; the headquarters are in the USA.
• Management (n.): The process of dealing with or controlling things or people; she took over the management of the branch.
• Branch (n.): A local office or bureau of a larger organization; she took over the management of the branch.
• Impression (n.): An idea, feeling, or opinion about something or someone; I had a positive impression of her.
• Open-minded (adj.): Willing to consider new ideas; unprejudiced; she seems open-minded.
• Immediately (adv.): At once; instantly; she immediately addressed me by my first name.
• To address (v.): To speak to or write to someone; she immediately addressed me by my first name.
• Inappropriate (adj.): Not suitable or proper in the circumstances; I found this inappropriate.
• Harsh (adj.): Unpleasantly rough or jarring to the senses; she seems a bit harsh.
• To interrupt (v.): To stop the continuous progress of something; she sometimes interrupts me.
• Uncomfortable (adj.): Causing or feeling unease or awkwardness; this makes me feel uncomfortable.
• Insecure (adj.): Not confident or assured; I feel insecure around her.
• Cause (n.): A person or thing that gives rise to an action, phenomenon, or condition; conflicts have many causes.
• Opposing (adj.): In conflict or competition with each other; opposing ideas can be a problem.
• Clash (n.): A violent confrontation or collision; a clash of personalities can be the cause of a problem.
• To lead to (v.): To have something as a result; this can lead to misunderstandings.
• Misunderstanding (n.): A failure to understand something correctly; this can lead to misunderstandings.
• Work style (n.): An individual's preferred manner of working; everyone has their own work style.
• Work pace (n.): The speed at which someone typically performs tasks; some people have a faster work pace than others.
• Challenge (n.): A task or situation that tests someone's abilities; this can be a challenge for some people.
• Jealousy (n.): The state of feeling resentful of someone else's achievements or possessions; jealousy can occur because of unfair treatment.
• Envy (n.): A feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or status; envy can occur because of unfair treatment.
• To occur (v.): To take place; happen; jealousy can occur because of unfair treatment.
• Leadership style (n.): A leader's method of providing direction, implementing plans, and motivating people; he has a special leadership style.
• To perceive (v.): To become aware or conscious of something; this behaviour may be perceived as inappropriate.
• To cause (v.): To bring about something; unfair treatment can cause dissatisfaction.
• Dissatisfaction (n.): The state of not being content or satisfied; unfair treatment can cause dissatisfaction.
• Trigger (n.): A thing that initiates a process or reaction; what was the trigger for this conflict?
• Working environment (n.): The physical conditions and the psychological atmosphere of the workplace; this is an international working environment.
• Rewarding (adj.): Providing satisfaction; gratifying; my job is rewarding.
• Challenging (adj.): Testing one's abilities; demanding; my job is challenging.
• To differ (v.): To be unlike or dissimilar; people differ from each other in many ways.
• To appear (v.): To give the impression of being; it’s important to appear professional.
• To avoid (v.): To keep away from; refrain from; most people try to avoid conflicts.
• Crucial (adj.): Decisive or critical, especially in the success or failure of something; it’s crucial to be familiar with some customs from other countries.
• Familiar (adj.): Well known or easily recognized; it’s crucial to be familiar with some customs from other countries.
• Custom (n.): A traditional and widely accepted way of behaving or doing something that is specific to a particular society, place, or time; it’s crucial to be familiar with some customs from other countries.

Possible phrases to start a conversation about a difficult situation

• “I would like to discuss something with you. Can we fix a meeting?”
• “I need to address a rather unpleasant issue. Is now a good time for you?”
• “I have the feeling that something is not quite right these days. Is there anything you would like to tell me about?”

Possible phrases to use during a conflict talk

• “Thank you for being honest with me.”
• “Your comment on my work hurt me. Can you understand that?”
• “I’m sorry. I see how I have contributed to the problem.”
• “Yes, I can understand what you mean. That must be difficult for you.”
• “I understand your point of view, but I have a different opinion on this topic.”
• “I don’t think we can find a solution today, so let’s discuss this tomorrow.”
• “I think we should take a break and discuss this again when we have both cooled down a bit.”
• “How can we advance here? What kind of solution would you propose?”
• "Let’s see how we can prevent this from happening in the future.”
• "Would it help if we involved our manager?”
• “Let’s agree to disagree.”