How Can I Tell the Difference Between Personality Conflicts and Conflicts Due to Misunderstandings and True Work-Related Problems?
Conflicts can arise from misunderstandings or from different view-points on how to resolve a real operating problem. Conflicts from communication gaffes can be put to an end when the confusion with the message is clarified. Work-related differences tend to disappear when the problem disappears. While one or the other party may still think he or she had the better solution, generally any negative feelings dissipate over time. That is, so long as the conflict goes no deeper than the operational issue.
Personality conflicts seem to go on and on. Someone’s words or manner just seem to get at you. Or your words and manner get at him or her. Everyone else may be able to work cooperatively with you both, but you two just can’t get along with each other. One of your employees, for instance, may do his job in an acceptable fashion yet complain and question every word from your mouth. Or an employee may have worked well with every other supervisor yet makes one mistake after another under your direction.