All work and no fight makes the office a dull place

By Murigi Macharia

During a recent interview, almost all the 10 applicants revealed that conflict with their seniors was one of the greatest push factors from their current organisations.

Although some of the interviewees held rewarding well paying jobs, they complained of persistent daily frustration from their bosses driven by such factors as competition for scarce resources and role conflicts.

Others cited clash of values, interests, poorly defined and duplicated responsibilities and poor job descriptions as factors driving conflict in their current organisations.

Resistance to change and new ideas from employees, clashes between line and staff management, also emerged as factors forcing employees from their current jobs.

But selfish empire building, destructive office politics and misplaced aggression by some managers were given as the chief denominators of factors creating unnecessary conflict at work. But did you know that mild and controlled conflict is healthy at the workplace? There is something seriously wrong if the company does not experience occasional conflict between staff.

Difference of opinion

Without the occasional but controlled flare-ups, outbursts, differences of opinion and even resignations on principle, the workplace would be the most boring environment.

In school, the occassional fights between the boys and girls is what made learning partly enjoyable.

At work, mild and controlled conflict between workers, managers and executives is acceptable and healthy. At the individual level, it helps diffuse tension and ill feelings. At the departmental level, it serves to balance power and authority relationships.

Conflict between managers and workers increases productivity. When employees are counselled and guided, sometimes with firmness and appropriate force, the resultant conflict increases their knowledge and skills. They eventually increase their productivity. Acceptable conflict points at the problem and demands that solutions be found.

When managers and departmental heads fight and executives engage in verbal flare-ups, these points towards existing problems. They provide critical feedback that things are not moving in the right direction. This provides opportunity for improvement.