Toxic work environment.  One person (and maybe more than one) is antagnostic toward you (and maybe others), causing tension and bad blood throughout the department. You know the conflict is not your fault, but this problem is jeopardizing everything you've worked for.

Your company has downsized.  Your remaining employees now need to take on additional responsibilities, work more hours, and perhaps are struggling with their own issues because of a wage freeze or a reduction of benefits.

Personal conflict is affecting your work.  While so far on this web site, I've connected my conflict resolution solutions to mostly work-related issues ... everything you learn here is applicable and highly effective in your personal conflict situations.

Conflict at work is affecting your personal life.  It would be wonderful, if you could turn off the work drama when you leave at the end of the day, and not think about it again until the start of work the next morning. Unfortunately, we both know, it's not that easy, and too often this stress follows us home, and while we may not mean to do it, we take it out on our loved ones at home.

Wasted time management.  Instead of doing what you're supposed to be doing, all you ever get done doing is playing referee, and trying to diffuse issues between people who can't or won't get along.

Productivity has been destroyed.  When the people around you argue, then stop speaking to each other, or gossip and create "sides," the entire team's productivity going right down the toilet.

Setting a bad example. There's a person that you just can't get along with. As a leader, all eyes are on you. When you can't deal with another person, or if another person clearly intimidates you, not only do you feel embarrassed, your respect level dwindles when you need it the most.

You have outstanding employees that can't get along with others. It's a difficult predicament because you're being forced to reprimand and possible sacrifice the success of the team and your company's profitability because people can't get along with your top employees... or is it that your top employees can't get along with the rest of team?

Your cross-generational workforce can't work together. Your seasoned employees complain about their younger counterparts because they don't work hard enough and spend too much time texting, chatting and taking breaks. Your younger employees think their experienced workmates have no lives outside of work and are hard-nosed and narrow-minded. You really them to all work together, but how?

Your multi-cultural workforce struggles to get along. In order for your company to be successful your employees must work together toward common corporate goals. How can this happen when cultural boundaries create employee cliques that struggle to work together?

Your teams act like anything but a cohesive unit. Individually your employees are great, but put them together and they act like spoiled children. Your company needs them to all work together in order to be profitable.

Cross-departmental failures.  I see this in larger organizations, where the owner or someone in upper management bypasses a department leader and dictates to staff work that needs to be done. The staff no longer work with the department head, because their "orders" come from a higher authority, creating a world of confusion and tension.

Lackluster customer service.  When your employees are absorbed in drama, it's impossible for them to put your customers first. We can agree, can't we, that the fastest way to drive your business into the ground is to allow your customers to feel unappreciated and irrelevant.

Skyrocketing stress levels.  It only takes one miserable person, or just two people who can't get along, to spread conflict and dissent throughout an entire company.

Employee turnover is unacceptable.  In any business, people come and people go. It's just the way it is in business. But when your good (and maybe your great) people, who want and need a positive work environment, leave your employment because they're not going to deal with all of the confict bull, it's time to take a real close look at how conflict is being dealt with in your organization.

Threatened (or very real) legal action.  Employee rights are sacred in any business. When an employee believes their rights have been violated, you are in for a world of headaches and grief. Even if you win, you lose, because the expense and wasted time can be astronomical.

At-risk for serious health issues.  Stress, worry, and frustration can all contribute to undesirable health problems, such as high blood pressure, insomnia, depression, lack of focus, and that's just a few of the side effects of conflict.

***IMPORTANT!*** Resources are added frequently. Check back often to stay current on your conflict resolution skills and strategies.