11 Indicators That Your Workplace Is A Conflict Zone

The Indicators of Workplace Conflict can show up as causes or as effects – either way, they are clues that something is wrong and needs to be addressed. 

A conflict is an entrenched state of negative feelings, such as anger, fear, or disgust that a person feels in relation to someone or something. When people are in conflict with each other, they typically don't trust each other’s motives or intentions. 

Generally, we find that a number, if not all, of the following Indicators are present when a conflict is rumbling:

1. PEOPLE AREN’T PERFORMING - They are not meeting reasonable expectations in terms of productivity and effort. 

As a Cause of Conflict: When we see our peers not working to the same standards in terms of productivity and effort, we often start to feel resentful towards them and the managers who are failing to hold them accountable.

As an Effect of Conflict: Workgroup conflict is a huge de-motivator. Nothing sucks the life and energy from a workgroup in quite the same way.

2. PEOPLE ARE DISENGAGING - They are uninterested in what is happening in the workplace and in the projects and initiatives that are being undertaken.

As a Cause of Conflict: People who are disengaging from the workplace often leave us feeling as if we are carrying the ball, not just for getting the work done, but also for keeping the workplace environment a pleasant one.

As an Effect of Conflict: When conflict is present in the workplace, people are generally thinking about being anywhere but at work.

3. PEOPLE ARE LEAVING - They are quitting, transferring to other departments and inquiring about opportunities for alternative placement.

As a Cause of Conflict: When we see everyone else leaving the ship, we question our own commitment to the organization and the people who work there.

As an Effect of Conflict: When conflict runs unchecked in the workplace, fantasies, dreams and plans of leaving the workplace are never far from mind.

4. PEOPLE ARE OFF SICK - They are taking time off for short term or long-term sick leave.

As a Cause of Conflict: When we suspect others are taking time off by abusing sick leave entitlements while we are at work, we feel angry with them and the managers who let them get away with it.

As an Effect of Conflict: When conflict runs unchecked in the workplace, the associated stresses can cause a variety of associated illnesses and medical conditions.

5. PEOPLE ARE BREAKING THE RULES - They are engaging in behaviors that are explicitly prohibited by laws or by policy.

As a Cause of Conflict: When we see others breaking rules with which we take effort to comply, we feel resentful – and maybe tempted to break some rules ourselves.

As an Effect of Conflict: Under the strain of intense conflict, people can feel driven to act in ways they would not consider under normal circumstances – including breaking some important rules they would normally respect.

6. PEOPLE AREN’T COOPERATING - They are failing to share information, to involve each other in decision making and to support each other in getting the work of the organization done.

As a Cause of Conflict: When others don’t keep us in the loop or treat us as members of a team, we start to see them as working against us rather than with us.

As an Effect of Conflict: Intense conflict acts as a barrier to the sort of cooperative communication that organizations rely on to succeed and thrive.

7. PEOPLE ARE TALKING DISRESPECTFULLY - They are talking in clipped tones to each other, rolling their eyes in meetings, turning away while others are talking, and trying to talk over each other.

As a Cause of Conflict: When others talk rudely to us, roll their eyes, turn away while we are speaking to them or try to talk over us, we become angry, frustrated and resentful – and respond in kind.

As an Effect of Conflict: Intense conflict makes us see others as not deserving of our respect, and our respectful behavior.

8. PEOPLE ARE GOSSIPING MORE - They are repeating stories about others, referring to each other by unflattering names, and talking each other down.

As a Cause of Conflict: When we have a sense that others are talking about us this way, it can make us feel isolated and attacked – and inclined to act defensively.

As an Effect of Conflict: When we feel people have been treating us unjustly, we are inclined to talk badly about them to others.

9. PEOPLE ARE EXCLUDING EACH OTHER - They are sitting in cliques at coffee breaks, or “secretly” arranging gatherings to which a few people are very specifically not invited.

As a Cause of Conflict: When we feel that a group of others doesn’t like us and is ganging up against us for no apparent cause, we can feel embarrassed, angry and upset.

As an Effect of Conflict: Conflict can bring people together in factions against individuals they see as being problems in the workplace.

10. PEOPLE ARE LODGING FORMAL COMPLAINTS - They are initiating/filing complaints and grievances against each other.

As a Cause of Conflict: Investigations, disciplinary proceedings, and adjudications don’t bring people together – they drive people further apart.

As an Effect of Conflict: When we feel that there is no other way to get our concerns addressed, we use the only recourse left to us. These processes are usually much more about problems in workplace relationships than around real concerns over extreme behaviors.

11. PEOPLE’S BEHAVIOURS ARE ESCALATING - They are “raising the stakes” with problematic behaviors.

As a Cause of Conflict: When we feel things spiraling out of control in a workgroup with no one stepping up to address the situation, we can feel unsupported and left to react defensively on our own.

As an Effect of Conflict: When there is no other recourse available to us to address perceived instances of unprofessional or even hostile behavior, we can feel as if we have no choice but to respond in kind to make them stop.

At ProActive ReSolutions we specialise in dealing with Conflict in Workplaces. In doing so we bring the parties effected by conflict together in a ProActive Conference to discuss what needs to be done to make things better.

If your workplace is displaying some of the Indicators discussed in this blog then a ProActive Conference might be the answer. Find out more about how ProActive ReSolutions can help by calling our Sydney Office on 02 9221 0446 or in North America call 877 585 9953.

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