Personality Differences

Personality differences among coworkers are common. By understanding some fundamental differences

among the way people think and act, we can better understand how others see the world. Knowing that

these differences are natural and normal lets us anticipate and mitigate interpersonal conflict—it’s often

not about “you” but simply a different way of seeing and behaving. For example, Type A individuals have

been found to have more conflicts with their coworkers than Type B individuals. [2]

Communication Problems

Sometimes conflict arises simply out of a small, unintentional communication problem, such as lost e-

mails or dealing with people who don’t return phone calls. Giving feedback is also a case in which the best

intentions can quickly escalate into a conflict situation. When communicating, be sure to focus on

behavior and its effects, not on the person. For example, say that Jeff always arrives late to all your

meetings. You think he has a bad attitude, but you don’t really know what Jeff’s attitude is. You do know,

however, the effect that Jeff’s behavior has on you. You could say, “Jeff, when you come late to the

meeting, I feel like my time is wasted.” Jeff can’t argue with that statement, because it is a fact of the

impact of his behavior on you. It’s indisputable, because it is your reality. What Jeff can say is that he did

not intend such an effect, and then you can have a discussion regarding the behavior.