How to Resolve Personality Conflicts at Work

Personality conflicts arise at some point in everyone's professional lives. When these types of conflict occur, a handful of additional problems such as lack of productivity and unwanted stress and pressure tend to take over the workplace. As a manager, the consequences of personality clashes can greatly impact your overall business performance if left unresolved.

Below are points to keep in mind in terms of managing your employees and a few tips on how to resolve personality conflicts:

• Realizing difference work styles - Everyone has his/her own work style. Some people work faster or with different methods than others. As a manager, you can set an example for others by accepting every one's various work styles as long as your employees are still being productive and delivering results on time. Having periodic group meetings to reiterate the expectations of the workplace and establish your company's universal goals will also help your workers see that they are all working towards the same purpose and that everyone is "on the same boat."
• Supporting different cultures & backgrounds - All your employees grew up in different families with different traditions, beliefs, and way of doing things. A lot of times conflict occurs when co-workers don't know or don't understand each other's cultural differences. Doing group exercises in the office and hosting company get-togethers can help your employees get to know each other on an informal level without the judgment of work or pressure of performance.
• Recognizing differences in attitudes - A negative attitude like arrogance or cynicism can greatly impact not only the atmosphere of the office but also the effectiveness of communication between co-workers. As a manager, it is helpful to identify who may be causing the negative mood and have a one-on-one chat with that employee to find out what's going on. That employee may just be having a rough time outside of work or maybe that employee just needs your help with an attitude adjustment. 
• Promoting healthy honesty and positive communication - Just like in a romantic relationship, communication is the key to understanding one another, and ultimately, accepting the other person for who they are. Conveying this message to the employees who are having the personality conflicts can help them take a step back from all the stress, anger, and pressure they may feel from each other and calmly talk things out. As a manager, however, you also may need to realize that in some cases, just like in a relationship, it's best for everyone and the couple to break up.