Signs, Impact and Residual Damage of Unresolved Conflict in the Workplace

Conflict is Costly

When a dispute is allowed to continue without resolution; it spreads to a wider circle of influence beyond the original parties

• Out-sick days increase
• Anxiety is distracting
• Short-term decisions become the focus without giving balanced consideration to their impact on long-term goals
• Respect for the organization fades
• Achieving quality as a value outcome dissolves
• Your best people leave and potentially go to your competitor
• Your customers feel, if not witness the tension and dysfunction within your organization

Conflict is Inefficient

When disputes are allowed to continue without resolution; mistakes happen, accidents happen, dysfunction happens

• Communication suffers
• Cooperation suffers
• Teamwork suffers
• Little annoyances grow into toxic disputes
• Fiefdoms form with pressure to pick sides, time is used to recruit allies, talk-down the opposing side with adding to and spreading drama becoming the focus
• Disinterest in doing a better job or offering insight into a more productive process takes the place of constructive feedback

Conflict Taints Culture

When disputes are allowed to continue without resolution; they spread beyond the original parties infecting the entire culture of an organization

• Your vision for a “great” place to work dies
• The commitment you made to your employees is not felt
• Value to excellence is not honored
• Pride in one’s contribution is lost
• The gap between what is said, and what is actually done expands creating distrust