If you work as part of a team within your organisation there has no doubt been a time when you could identify conflict occuring between members of the team. This could involve you personally, or could take place between other members of your team, affecting you indirectly. Conflict in the workplace is very common and these situations can often be very stressful and upsetting for those involved. There are often two main types of conflict at work, but there are of course many situations where disagreements can occur:

Personality Conflict: Workplaces are made up of varieties of diverse people with different personalities working in close proximity all day. Because of this, you may find yourself working with people whom you wouldn't necessarily choose to associate with outside of work. Extremes of personality within an office can clash, especially in smaller offices, where it is difficult to gain distance from those who you don't get on with.

Work-Related Conflicts: Work-related conflicts can manifest in the form of a misunderstanding, a clash of ideas if someone wants to take a different approach to a task, or even a power struggle situation if a member of the team believes he/she should take charge of certain projects. Whatever the cause of the disagreement, it is extremely difficult to work in an environment where there is underlying or overt conflict occurring, and so it is best to try and work through these problems, rather than letting them build over time.

If you find yourself involved in office conflict; what can you do?

1. Communication. Often, a lack of communication can be at the heart of office conflict. Difficulties may be resolved if you take a moment to sit down with those involved and have an open an honest discussion of how you feel. Ensure that if you are going to try and resolve conflict this way that you keep a level head, be honest and open but try not to be aggressive in your approach as this could escalate problems further.

2. Don't make things personal. Everyone has good days and bad days and it is easy to take things out on your colleagues even when it is nothing to do with them. If you are stressed with other things, make sure you approach situations objectively. If you were the cause of a disagreement, ask yourself whether you would have behaved in that way if you had not had other things on your mind. If you see you are in the wrong, take the time to apologise and explain yourself. Close teams can feel like a family, and these are often the people that end up bearing the brunt of your bad moods.  Like your family, a colleague should understand if you were having 'one of those days' as long as this isn't a regular occurence! If you are on the receiving end of the conflict, and you are aware that the person is dealing with some personal issues, perhaps letting it go is better than making the situation worse.

3. Involve your manager. If there is no sign of resolution it is often best to inform your manager of the problems you are having. You should be able to discuss your concerns with them privately and they will be able to help find a resolution.

When you are discussing the situation with your manager ensure you are not just blame-placing or passing the buck. If the situation is partly your fault, hold your hands up and admit you may have both been in the wrong, your manager will not think any less of you for admitting your mistakes.