High Costs
of Residual Conflict

Here's our Top 5 problems with residual conflict. A couple of years ago I interviewed a number of Business Leaders about their conflict management styles and subsequently wrote, "The problem is not conflict (and its associated high costs) but its residue - unresolved conflict. The solution lies in resolving conflict which, properly managed, proves highly beneficial to both people and organisations. People who skilfully resolve conflict should be highly prized because they propel individuals and teams to succeed thereby adding enormous value to their organisation."

Further, "Most Australians prefer to avoid conflict if they can. But conflict - "unmet needs" - is a constant of both our personal and professional lives. The Conflict Report shows that conflict has multiple meanings, mostly negative in flavour. Yet the problem is not with conflict itself but what we are left with: "unresolved conflict". The issue is what we do with it, how we process it. Ultimately the problem is not conflict but conflict resolution."


Unmanaged conflict is the largest reducible cost in organizations today, and the least recognized.
           Daniel Dana, PhD

  Resolving interpersonal conflict isn't easy.   Few of us do so skilfully. But when failing
  to resolve a crucial conflict what are the   lingering problems, anyway? Here are the
  5 biggest costs of residual conflict in the   workplace today:


        #1. Residual conflict reduces productivity by as much as 30%.

        #2. It increases stress.

        #3. It results in poorer financial outcomes.

        #4. Residual conflict encourages presenteeism.

        #5. And it increases employee turnover. As Dan Dana, PhD, notes, "Chronic unresolved conflict acts as a decisive factor in at least 50% of departures. Conflict accounts for up to 90% of involuntary departures, with the possible exception of staff reductions due to downsizing and restructuring."


Over 200 years ago, William Blake wrote his brilliant poem about the fruits of conflict. Enjoy.

                 A Poison Tree
                by William Blake

  I was angry with my friend:
  I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
  I was angry with my foe:
  I told it not, my wrath did grow.

  And I watered it in fears,
  Night and morning with my tears;
  And I sunned it with smiles,
  And with soft deceitful wiles.

  And it grew both day and night,
  Till it bore an apple bright.
  And my foe beheld it shine.
  And he knew that it was mine,

  And into my garden stole
  When the night had veiled the pole;
  In the morning glad I see
  My foe outstretched beneath the tree.



To see how the Glenn Index of Conflict Health® program would work in your organisation, contact us by clicking here on the resolve residual conflict link.


Glenn Index of Conflict Health®
Measure, track and resolve residual conflict for better results
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