Why We Fight at Work

Debate and disagreements at work are productive; fighting is not. (Click to Tweet!) Writing in the Harvard Business Review, Annie McKee, senior fellow at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education and author of How to be Happy at Work, says, “We each bring our own baggage to work each day. And, some of our issues rear their heads again and again.”

Topping McKee’s list of sources of work conflict are personal insecurity (fear of admitting we are imperfect), the desire for power and control (attempting to position oneself above others), and habitual victimhood (relinquishing control to avoid accountability).

What can we do about conflict at work? McKee suggests the following:

• Admit that conflict at work is real and pervasive, and is just as important to address as other interpersonal conflicts.
• Cultivate empathy and compassion for others’ points of view.
• Note your biases and avoid stereotyping.
• Cultivate self-awareness: What are you insecure about? How do you feel about power? Do you see yourself as a victim in your workplace? 

What causes fighting in your workplace? Do you think you can play a role in transforming it? To join the conversation, click "comments" above.

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