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4 Types of Team Conflict and How To Resolve Each Effectively

This document discusses types of team conflicts and how to resolve them. It identifies 4 main types of team conflicts: [1] task-based conflicts when members rely on each other for tasks, [2] leadership conflicts due to different leadership styles, [3] work style conflicts from preferences in how tasks are accomplished, and [4] personality clashes. It recommends staying calm, communicating to understand all perspectives, acknowledging the conflict, and potentially involving HR to resolve issues. Resolving conflicts in a timely manner improves team productivity, morale and relationships.

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137 views4 pages

4 Types of Team Conflict and How To Resolve Each Effectively

This document discusses types of team conflicts and how to resolve them. It identifies 4 main types of team conflicts: [1] task-based conflicts when members rely on each other for tasks, [2] leadership conflicts due to different leadership styles, [3] work style conflicts from preferences in how tasks are accomplished, and [4] personality clashes. It recommends staying calm, communicating to understand all perspectives, acknowledging the conflict, and potentially involving HR to resolve issues. Resolving conflicts in a timely manner improves team productivity, morale and relationships.

Uploaded by

Tracy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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4 Types of Team Conflict and How To

Resolve Each Effectively


By Indeed Editorial Team

Updated June 20, 2022 | Published December 12, 2019

This article has been approved by an Indeed Career Coach

 

Conflicts are a natural part of life, both in our personal lives and in the workplace. Workplace
conflicts occur because team members don’t always agree or know how to work together despite
their differences. These differences could be in the way they manage their tasks, their work
styles or personalities.

For a team to work together effectively, conflicts need to be resolved in a timely and professional
manner that minimizes disruption to productivity. The ability to resolve team conflicts is crucial
to the success of any organization.

Whether you’re involved in a conflict or acting as a mediator, you’ll need to remain calm
throughout the process and work to understand the different perspectives of all parties involved.
In this article, we’ll examine the most common types of conflicts that can arise, steps for
resolving these conflicts and why conflict resolution is important in the workplace.

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What is team conflict?


Team conflicts arise when there are disagreements over the goals, methods or needs of the team.
Conflicts can also occur when there are differing personalities. At first, these conflicts may seem
commonplace, but failing to resolve them could hurt productivity and overall morale. When
conflicts between team members arise, addressing these disagreements and coming to a mutual
understanding allows everyone to collaborate harmoniously and productively.

Conflict resolution is a valuable leadership skill to have. Individuals with the ability to recognize
conflicts, acknowledge differences and find quick and peaceful resolutions are essential to any
organization.

Related: How To Mediate Conflict in the Workplace (With 9 Tips)


Why is conflict resolution important?
Conflict resolution is important for the success of any team. Leaving a conflict unresolved can
negatively impact morale and productivity, resulting in a tense and uncomfortable work
environment for all. Resolving conflicts in the workplace allows teams to trust each other and
work better together to achieve their goals. Conflict resolution allows team members to
understand each other better and create smoother working relationships in the future.

Related: Conflict Resolution Skills: Definitions and Examples

4 types of team conflicts


Here are four different types of team conflicts common to workplace environments:

1. Task-based conflicts

Task-based conflicts occur in situations when team members rely on each other to complete a
task or project. When one person on the team doesn’t complete their part of the task, it can affect
another team member’s ability to finish their part on time. For example, if an employee always
turns in their reports late, it causes the accountant to be late with their reports as well. To avoid
these conflicts, make sure everyone on the team knows what they should be doing in their
position so tasks can be accomplished efficiently and on deadline.

Related: Best Practices for Resolving Conflict in the Workplace

2. Leadership conflicts

Some conflicts occur because of differences in leadership styles. Everyone has their own way of
leading their team. Some leaders are directive, while others are more open, inclusive and
encourage collaboration with their team. To prevent leadership style conflicts, it’s important to
recognize and appreciate these differences throughout the team. If you’re in a management role,
you should be aware of your own leadership style and how you interact with your team. It may
be necessary to make adjustments to your leadership style to accommodate the different needs
and personalities of your team members.

Related: 5 Major Conflict Management Styles for Successful Managers

3. Work style conflicts

Just as there are differences in leadership styles, there are differences in work styles as well.
Work style conflicts occur because team members have different preferences on how to
accomplish tasks. Some work quickly and move on to the next task as soon as possible, while
others prefer to complete tasks slowly and mindfully. Some people are self-starters who require
little to no direction to finish a task, and others need guidance every step of the way. The best
way to avoid these types of conflicts is to recognize that everyone’s work style is different and
find ways to collaborate to achieve the same goal despite those differences.

Related: 11 Common Barriers to Teamwork and How You Can Overcome Them

4. Personality clashes

Personality clashes are some of the most common types of team conflicts. These types of
conflicts are caused by differences in personality among team members. You’re not always
going to get along with or like every person you meet, whether they’re your coworker,
supervisor or peer. It can be challenging to work with someone whose personality disagrees with
your own. However, it’s important to try to understand their differences and learn how to work
together peacefully and productively.

Related: 10 Workplace Personalities (And How To Work With Each)

How to resolve team conflicts


Many conflicts at work are caused by misunderstandings and a lack of communication among
team members. However, when these conflicts are resolved properly, team members can develop
better working relationships and are more productive as a result. Here are some productive steps
to take to resolve workplace conflicts:

Stay calm

When a conflict arises, it’s important to stay calm and professional. Take several deep breaths
and clear your mind before attempting to address the conflict. Come up with a plan to resolve the
conflict before tension grows and things worsen.

Related: How To Resolve an Employee Conflict in 5 Steps (With Tips)

Communicate (and listen)


Find a place where you can discuss the conflict in private. It’s important that all parties involved
have the opportunity to share their side and listen to what others have to say. Be attentive and
empathetic, and try to understand how the other person feels while still saying everything you
need to say.

Related: Conflict Resolution Skills: Definition and Examples

Acknowledge the conflict and find a resolution

Part of conflict resolution includes acknowledging there’s a problem in the first place. Once the
conflict has been recognized, everyone involved needs to agree on reaching a resolution. Try to
see the conflict from the viewpoint of your other team members and focus on the things you can
agree on. This will help you better understand what they feel and how they think and allow you
to come to a resolution together.

Related: Handling Workplace Conflict (With Interview Questions)

Involve leadership or HR

In some cases, you may need to involve your HR department

or a supervisor if a conflict can’t be resolved, whether it’s because someone is failing to


cooperate or something much more serious, such as harassment or discrimination.

Resolving workplace conflicts requires teamwork and an understanding of each other’s differing
viewpoints. Once conflicts are resolved, the best way to move forward is to recognize that
mistakes happen. A team that is willing to work together to resolve workplace conflicts can
strengthen their relationships and accomplish their goals.

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