You hold a vision of the good your products or services can accomplish and how to reach your goals. But, conflict causes employee absenteeism and presenteeism*, late and shoddy deliveries, and unproductive meetings. Conflict may show itself as resistances or simple frictions. But whatever the form, conflict makes it hard for you to compete effectively.

This conflict affects your employees, as well as strategic partners and other associates. It happens inside your organization, and your team brings the effects of outside conflict to work. It may also appear as resistance, confusion, ambivalence, and other frictions. It is sapping their energy, and robbing you of their focus.

You realize training is a band-aid. Structures and rules for dealing with conflict are not consistently reliable. Mediations are too formal and do not satisfy anyone. Counseling and Employee Assistance Programs don’t work. Bringing consultants and experts in to deal with conflicts can be disruptive and not practical for normal day-to-day issues.

In short, you are frustrated and (truth be told) perhaps a little angry about a situation you may feel is out of control. Often, it is hard to admit you have a conflict problem.