Conflict Management Managing Workplace Stress

Question: Discuss about theConflict Management for Managing Workplace Stress. Answer: Introduction Conflict is one of the key aspects that could hinder the performance of people within an organisation. It could be said that employees find it difficult to cope up with a conflict within the organisation. Conflict could arise in different ways within an organisation and hence it is important for a company to develop a strong strategic management platform which will be able to eliminate all kinds of conflicts and use conflict to good effect for the betterment of performance within the organisation. Increased conflict within the organisation is definitely going to affect the business of the organisation and this is where conflict management comes into the picture (Trudel Rejo, 2011). Effective conflict management is capable of limiting the negative impacts of conflicts and increasing the positive impact of conflict in the organisation. In the present scenario it could be said that both Fatima and Ahmed have strong difference in values and morale which is the main difference between th e two. The present study will take an opportunity to discuss the conflict between Fatima and Ahmed and give effective suggestion which would help to use their conflict in favor of the company to develop their operational efficacy. Concepts and Understanding of Conflict and its Impact Conflicts are very common at workplaces as there are different kinds of people working together who are from different background, and have different values and morale. In this scenario conflict could often become a trouble for managers to implement strategies to operate the organisation. Conflict could be defined as the potential difference between ideas and strategies of two persons within the organisation. Conflicts normally do have negative impact in the business as normally people tend to get demotivated with conflicts happening within employees but it could also be used as a positive thing in case the company is able channelise the energy in conflict in the work. There are different types of conflicts within an organisation which has to be handled effectively by the management like interpersonal conflict, intrapersonal conflict (within an individual), intergroup conflict, intragroup conflict (within an individual working in a group). Even though conflict is perceived negatively by some people, it could be said that it is effective for developing performance (Mujtaba McCarteny, 2009). Analysis of the Scenario The present scenario places a classic example of conflict at the workplace. It could be said that both the employees namely Fatima and Ahmed who are provided the responsibility of managing a project. The main conflict that both of them has is the difference in thought process and values. Ahmed is more of a laid back employee and believes in positioning himself in a superior way whereas Fatima is much of a dedicated employee and wants the work to be done effectively which would help the company to complete the project. They also have difference in vision as Fatima feels Ahmed is not competent enough to head the project. From the given scenario it is very clear that Fatima and Ahmed are not getting along well due to their interpersonal conflict (Williams, 2009). Discussion and Suggestion The interpersonal conflict between Fatima and Ahmed are definitely going to affect the teams performance as both of them have different approaches to address a particular job and hence it will extend the rift between both of them will affect the performance of the entire team. The interpersonal conflict is the most common conflict that one experiences in a workplace and hence it is important to reduce the impact of conflict. This is where the concept of conflict management would be effective. Since the thought process of both the leaders is different it is important to bring them on the same boat but use their conflict to improve their performance (Shih Susanto, 2010). There are number of conflict management styles like accommodation where one cooperates to a high degree, avoiding is when a person continuously avoids the issue which creates the difference and conflict, collaborating where two managers pair up in order to resolve conflict and complete a project successfully, competing when two or more managers compete with each other due to conflicted mindset, compromising is a conflict management approach where both managers are in a lose-lose situation and have not been able to manage anything (Thomas Kilmann, 2011). For the present case both Fatima and Ahmed should use the collaborative style of management but there will be a hidden competition within them which would help to get better of each other but in a mutual way. It will help to complete the project successfully and help the company to improve its performance. Even though both of the managers have different ways but their collaborative style and vision is definitely going to help complet e the project successfully and resolve their conflict (Williams, 2009). Conclusion Both Fatima and Ahmed have distinct mindset and hence they cannot get along well which has affected the performance of the team in the project and hence it is important for both of them to understand the interest of the company and collaborate setting aside all the differences which will help to perform well in the project. Overall it could be said that the collaboration conflict management strategy is one of the effective strategy to resolve conflict or get a positive impact from the conflict. References Mujtaba, B. G., McCartney, T. (2009).Managing workplace stress and conflict amid change. ILEAD Academy. Shih, H. A., Susanto, E. (2010). Conflict management styles, emotional intelligence, and job performance in public organizations.International Journal of Conflict Management,21(2), 147-168. Trudel, J., Reio, T. G. (2011). Managing workplace incivility: The role of conflict management stylesantecedent or antidote?.Human Resource Development Quarterly,22(4), 395-423. Thomas, K. W., Kilmann, R. H. (2011). Five conflict management styles at a glance. Williams, C. (2013).Principles of management. South-Western/Cengage Learning.