We spend more time at work than we spend at home or enjoying leisure activities and the people we work with are in a sense our extended family.

Often a dysfunctional family where conflict erupts to adversely affect careers and happiness. 

Many times we bring workplace conflict home to our loved ones as an unintended consequence.

It’s time we put conflict at work in its proper place.

1. Search for the hidden agenda that is stimulating the conflict.  Some people live to control, others use work to validate that no idea is good unless it is their idea and often, personal dysfunction (bullying, inappropriate behavior and insulting associates) becomes an issue.
2. Most employers want to distance themselves from conflict at work other than a seminar or two.  They know it is there but do not deal with it.
3. Acquire skills to identify situations that trigger workplace conflict and gain the skills to respond rather than react.  Spend some time with the works of Dale Carnegie for an arsenal of tools that will come in handy for these situations.
4. Avoid arguing because as the master himself, Dale Carnegie said, the only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.
5. Encourage collaborative problem solving and multiple ways of resolving differences.

I once heard a psychologist who wrote a book about careers interviewed on a Philadelphia talk station.  I’ve forgotten her name but I’ll never forget her advice.

Never, ever quit a job you love because of workplace conflict or personal animosity.

Wait for them to quit using strategies like these to deal with the problem along the way. 

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