Why There’s So Much Conflict at Work and What You Can Do to Fix It | Liz Kislik | TEDxBaylorSchool

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Published 2018-01-16

We usually think of conflict as something that happens between people, so when there's conflict at work, we tend to blame the people involved, and expect them to straighten things out. But people are just the part of the story that's easiest to see, according to Liz Kislik, a management consultant and business coach. Liz draws on examples from more than 25 years of working with clients from the Fortune 500 to national nonprofits and family-run businesses such as American Express, The Girl Scouts, and Highlights for Children. She describes the underlying conditions that can lock people into unproductive conflict, and shares five steps to enable people in any kind of organization identify the underpinnings of a conflict and work through it effectively. Liz's focus is on helping organizations solve their thorniest problems while strengthening their top and bottom lines. She writes for Harvard Business Review and for the dedicated readers of her "Workplace Wisdom" blog and has taught at Hofstra University and NYU. You can learn more at lizkislik.com/.

All Comments (21)

@Alexander-uw7im 4 years ago

oh my God, conflicts happen bc of people. I have worked from home bc of this virus, i have never been so happy.
@anastasiaward5048 3 years ago

I show this talk to my students in Workplace Dispute Resolution. The ability which Liz has to clearly explain difficult points with humour and compassion is incredibly powerful in the learning environment
@simatian2019 3 years ago

Unfortunately, it is because of people. Usually just a few... Managers with little to no experience concerning the work they "manage".
@jenjq2012 3 years ago

I am very grateful to this speaker thought to address bullying and corporate incompetence! Other TED talks on the same subject completely dismiss this idea!
@etloeb 4 years ago

So wise to get underneath conflict or we will continue to perpetuate misunderstanding and further conflict that gets in the way of productive, enjoyable work environments. Great talk!
@lraschellmorton8324 4 years ago

5 Steps To Get Traction on Persistent Conflict: 1. Rule, screen or deal with that 1 person who is the source of conflict. 2. Ask the right people the right questions. 3. Align around goals and means. 4. Find allies at all levels. 5. Teach new habits for managing differences. (My feedback) Thank you.
@halcarltonford 2 years ago

Great talk. I hope more people begin to approach conflict this way.
@adamsell2675 3 years ago

Excellent presentation! I'll use these 5 steps to help resolve a conflict this week!
@Fransphoenix 2 years ago

This was an incredibly strong talk. I really needed to hear this. Thank you!
@katiemuldoon6695 6 years ago

Office Conflict – not an easy topic to address but Liz Kislik held the audience’s attention throughout her well-organized presentation by employing an exceptionally well-prepared combination of human touch and truly useful information. You knew she was speaking with both kindness and true knowledge…and you wanted to hear more.
@michaelosullivan6921 11 months ago

Clear, Concise and Insightful. Thank you!!
@tem1465 4 years ago

Thank you so much for this. So enlightening. ♥ ♥ ♥
@leahforrest9155 2 years ago

Spot on! So glad to stumble on this one.
@christianrusin7397 4 years ago

Simply perfect
@TimDawes 1 year ago

Wow, that was just terrific. I also teach conflict resolution. And still I found great gems and a really powerful construct. Thank you, Liz.
@AngelaFlynnGrnEv 4 years ago

My conflicts have been due to abusive employees that were tolerated by my employers. My guess is that the employers feared retaliation if they fired these abusive people.
@janelleopoku5235 2 years ago

This was an excellent talk! Relevant and actionable.
@jenamirgholi6004 2 years ago

social competition can be a major ringleader in this.
@edwardcortez4113 4 years ago

Where there's no communication, there's conflict
@manuelacea-poblete7393 4 years ago

Thank you for sharing your knowledge, Liz. So many pieces of the puzzle to consider in the aim for better relationships and communication in the workplace.