Home topics small-business-resources general Expert General Hot Tips Expert The 5 positives of conflict at work Ilona Vass April 9, 2019 The energy of conflict is generated by the gap between two different points of view; between what we want and what we are actually experiencing. When people disagree with each other, your organisation is healthier. This is because disagreements often result in new ideas being shared and a more thorough study of options leading to well-rounded decisions and better direction. So how can conflict lead to positive outcomes? Here are five tips for your organisation to become healthier from conflict. Conflict can enhance engagement When people are in conflict, they often are more highly engaged in order to find fodder to win their argument. While this may seem like a negative, increased engagement in the workplace is positive as employees pay more attention and want to have more input. Increased engagement can also lead to enhanced collaboration as the employees in conflict may seek to get colleagues on their side. While a team should not be dragged into conflict, the skills conflict teaches in terms of collaboration and engagement can have a positive effect on the employee as it encourages a sense of belonging; they find others with similar values. Conflict can enhance communication skills Employees in conflict need to learn quickly how to communicate their point in a clear and succinct manner. This is a big positive for business as clear communication skills can actually reduce future conflict