Two coworkers do not get along well at work and this affects the entire departme

Question

Two coworkers do not get along well at work and this affects the entire department. People are upset and complaining; work is getting affected. The two fighting coworkers have key components of work that need to be completed by them before others can start their work. Using the South University Online Library or the Internet, do your research on coworker conflicts at the workplace. Based on your research and understanding, respond to the following questions: How will you resolve this problem as their superior? What would be an objective that is relevant to this problem? Which common bias might fit in this situation? How might you use this appropriate common bias to resolve the situation? How have you handled a similar situation in the past? What could you do to prevent such a situation from occurring in the future? View comments (2) Two coworkers do not get along well at work and this affects the entire department. People are upset and complaining; work is getting affected. The two fighting coworkers have key components of work that need to be completed by them before others can start their work. Using the South University Online Library or the Internet, do your research on coworker conflicts at the workplace. Based on your research and understanding, respond to the following questions: •How will you resolve this problem as their superior? •What would be an objective that is relevant to this problem? •Which common bias might fit in this situation? •How might you use this appropriate common bias to resolve the situation? •How have you handled a similar situation in the past? •What could you do to prevent such a situation from occurring in the future?

Explanation / Answer

Conflicts are very common in the work place. Conflicts can occur between two coworkers, between a boss and his subordinate, between two teams etc. Resolving the conflict as soon as possible is the key to any successful teams. Conflicts between the coworkers is very normal, because of the obvious reasons that most of the day a person spends his time in the office dealing with the people around. With different people and different mentalities, gelling up with the coworkers will sometimes raise the conflicts.

When two coworkers engage in a conflict, it is the work and the team which suffers the most. Regardless of why the conflict occurs, such as difference in opinions, difference in the two personalities, or lack of respect between them etc, what ever the reason could be it is the duty of the management to ensure that they act professionally at all the times. At this point, the work of the superior comes into picture. He has to resolve the conflict otherwise, his team and the work suffers. Resolving the conflict may not be pleasant, but sometimes it is necessary for the boss to intervene in the coworker conflicts. The different ways a boss tries to resolve the conflicts are -

1) Individual Meeting - It is always better to have a meeting with both the coworkers separately. By asking them why they dislike each other would help the boss know the possible reasons for their conflicts. It is always necessary to listen to the concerns from both the ends. Listening intently for the legitimate reasons for the conflict or unethical behavior either by one or by both would help the superior understand the problem from both the ends. Then having a meeting with both the coworkers along with the human resources representative could help to an extent. If the conflict occurred due to the misunderstanding, then clearing it up and telling them to get along in the work place, even though they don't like each other is very important.

2) Right Communication - Once the meeting for the conflict is done, coworkers will have an idea that the conflicts are not acceptable in the team. Then tell them how important it is to have a right communication. If a person has a problem with his coworker for a weird gesture of his, then that should be communicated properly to the other person. They should be taught as how to approach each other for resolving the conflict. Identifying the triggers which causes the conflict and acting accordingly can help reduce the conflict.

3) Clear expectations - Expectations should be clearly communicated to the employees. A separate space has to be provided for both the employees to resolve their conflicts. If they could resolve it by themselves, then that could be fine. If the boss's intervention is also not resolving their dispute, then they are asked to terminate.

4) Follow-up - It is the responsibility of the boss to follow up with the employees and ensure that the conflicts are successfully resolved or not. As long as they perform their duties in a right way, it is not necessary that they remain friends and work.

The objective that is relevant to the conflicts is mainly to resolve them without the entire organization or the work suffers due to them. Resolving the conflict as soon as possible is the main objective. And also ensuring that they do not occur in future, and even though they are in the verge of occurrence, they should be a way out to prevent them.

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