Positive & Negative Conflicts in the Workplace
Liberty University
AVIA 245 Aviation Leadership
Professor: Jim Molloy
2022
Where there are people, conflict often exists. People disagree for a variety of reasons. Many
business leaders try to minimize workplace conflicts to promote a positive corporate culture with high
team morale. While conflict is usually seen as negative, business leaders should consider that there are
positive aspects of conflict that improve work environments and productivity.
Positive: Debating Pros and Cons of Ideas
When team members feel confident that their ideas are respected, they are willing to share them
freely, which creates an environment where brainstorming meetings become opportunities to discuss all
aspects of different ideas. There is no judgment for even the zaniest of ideas. This approach serves as
fuel for the entire creative process.
Managers may need to learn how to foster a debating environment to get everyone participating.
Some team members are naturally drawn to speak while others may shy away from sharing, especially if
their ideas are not mainstream. Managers can effectively facilitate brainstorming and debate sessions by
systematically asking each team member to speak, limiting the time for everyone to present an idea,
and then summarizing each idea in positive manager to ensure understanding.
Negative: Petty Arguments
Petty arguments lead to high tensions in workspaces. Arguments might be over something as
minor as someone eating another's lunch or stealing a parking space. While the occasional minor
quibble isn't overly concerning, managers need to have a process in place to ensure overall morale
doesn't diminish. It isn't just the two parties arguing that are affected. If tensions continue to rise,
everyone feels it. People might take sides or feel pressure to appease one party or another to reduce
the tension.
Positive: Employee Feedback and Reviews
Many employees feel that reviews and customer feedback are wrought with negativity. This
doesn't need to be the case. Providing employees with constructive ways to improve and meet their
own personal and professional goals is not only positive, it is also valuable to business owners. When
employees feel the boss is invested in their goals and growth, employees are more likely to buy into the
overall vision of the company. Employees feel like they are working toward something not merely
working for someone.
Employee reviews should be a mix of measuring performance standards, constructive criticism
and acknowledgment of things done well. They should also engage employees with active dialogue and
feedback. A two-way dialogue gives employees a voice that can lead to better processes and improved
skills.
Negative: Vocally Disagreeing With Leadership
Great business leaders develop a company culture where employees embrace the mission, vision
and goals of the company. People may not always agree with some of the decisions made, but when
someone becomes negative and hostile toward the direction of the company, it can become cancerous
throughout the organization. Telling customers that things should be done differently or constantly bad-
mouthing managerial directives isn't productive. Managers need to open dialogue with those who
disagree at this level and allow them to voice opinions openly in a private manner. Should this type of
conflict continue or escalate, managers need to determine if the employee is still a good fit for the
company.
