When people cannot work together.
WHAT CAUSES IT COMMONLY
Unclear responsibilities Competing objectives Different working styles A specific incident Personal dislike
WHAT TO DO FIRST
Establish the cause, from both sides separately.
WHY SEPARATELY
People speak more candidly, and you hear both accounts.
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Whether it is about work or about the relationship.
WHY THAT DISTINCTION
Work problems have solutions; relationship problems need different handling.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT UNCLEAR RESPONSIBILITIES
Define them, in writing.
WHY
Much conflict is structural rather than personal.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT COMPETING OBJECTIVES
Resolve the conflict in the objectives.
WHY
People pursuing contradictory goals will conflict regardless of goodwill.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT STYLE DIFFERENCES
Help each understand the other, and agree working arrangements.
WHAT TO AVOID
Taking sides publicly Ignoring it and hoping Moving people apart as a first resort
WHY IGNORING FAILS
Conflict spreads and others take sides.
WHAT TO DO IF IT PERSISTS
Bring them together, with structure.
WHAT STRUCTURE MEANS
Each describes the problem Each hears the other You state what must change Agreement on specific behaviour
WHAT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT
That professional conduct is required regardless of personal feeling.
WHAT TO RECORD
What was agreed.
WHAT TO DO IF ONE PERSON IS THE CONSISTENT CAUSE
Address it as a performance matter.
