Conflicts are a regular occurrence that takes place in everyday life – including in the workplace. Understanding the different causes of a conflict and how it can affect our lives can help us prevent unnecessary escalation of conflicts and possible breaches of trust between our families, friends, and work relationships.
The article will explore possible causes of conflict escalation. These may be caused by personality traits, seen as defying boundaries, or motives to be valued more than others in the relationship.
Different Personal Values
Personal values are the beliefs that we have in certain areas of life. Our culture is formed by our values which can vary. They lead us to believe, desire, and value certain things in life. This can lead to conflicts if different values cause the escalation of disputes.
Disapproval of Different Kinds of Behavior
Behaviors are how we act or conduct ourselves, and it is every individual’s choice in how they want to show their lives. Once again, our culture sets patterns and ways of behaving that become a part of our personality over time. These may lead us to classify people with similar manners or behavior.
Conflicting Goals
Achieving goals are every organization’s objective, and the same applies to individuals. Personal goals help us to understand our priorities, challenge us to accomplish new things in life, and give us a sense of direction. Knowing why we have specific goals and how we can achieve them is essential, so we do not feel unsettled or question why others are achieving their goals when we are not doing so.
Unpredictable Policies
The way organizational policies are implemented can have an impact on its employees. Employees may feel that important decisions are being made without input, which may cause frustration towards the organization and other employees. The goal of every organization is to achieve the best possible outcome for its success. Still, sometimes these decisions can have severe ramifications that can affect the organization’s employees and their families.
Resistance to Change
Being comfortable in our surroundings is a natural feeling we all want, and people are resistant to change. The fear of uncertainty and what the changes may bring can lead to different reactions from employees, such as becoming frustrated when others express their views on the matter or disagreeing with what’s being said. Everyone must understand that change is inevitable and how each employee will deal with it.
However, there are de-escalation techniques that employees can use to handle the situation better and maintain a healthy work environment. These include:
Slowing Down Intense Emotional Reactivity
Emotional reactivity is a common trait in most people. It is the reaction that occurs from being frustrated or feeling anxious. When we are upset and angry, our ability to think decreases, and we may not be able to see things from another person’s perspective. Employees can use de-escalation strategies to slow down their emotional reactivity.
Recognizing Limiting Beliefs
Limiting beliefs are the scripts that help us cope with what has happened in our past. They are the thoughts that make us feel uncomfortable or afraid of the outcomes of different decisions that may affect us in the future. For example; ‘If I do this, then something bad will happen.’ is a fear of failure.
Managing Emotional Needs
People with problems managing emotions tend to use work situations as excuses for not dealing with personal issues. This can be very detrimental in the long run, especially when dealing with other staff members and the organization. Managing emotional needs can solve this issue, allowing employees to manage their personal lives and work responsibilities simultaneously.
Utilizing the Proper Body Language
Body language is an essential tool in communication. This technique can be used to recognize the body language that is being used, in which the employee may not realize their behavior is causing conflict, and also to use the information within their body to make decisions and better understand the situation.
Maintaining Personal Relationships
Work relationships are significant in people’s lives and can cause conflict among other staff members. They can allow people to develop good relationships with other staff members, which may lead them to believe that the organization’s goals are more important than their personal life goals.
In conclusion, conflict is a natural occurrence in every individual’s life. It can have significant and minor effects on our lives, but understanding the causes of a conflict and how it affects us will help us to manage it better. De-escalation techniques can be used to create a better understanding between employees and the organization, as well as the escalation of conflict.
