The document outlines 6 common reasons for conflict in the workplace: 1) skill deficiency, especially in communication skills, 2) different interests and life experiences among employees, 3) stress felt by employees, 4) lack of training and procedures to resolve conflicts, 5) limited resources causing competition, and 6) clashes in personality between some employees. It provides details on each reason, such as how poor communication can lead to tension, and how stress may prevent employees from speaking up. The document aims to help recognize the sources of workplace conflict.

1. A Summary of the Article by Paul Glover
What We Have Here Is a Failure to
Communicate: Recognizing the
Sources of Conflict

2. 6 Reasons Conflict Happens in the
Workplace
Skill deficiency
Different interests
Stress
Organizational deficiency
Lack of resources
Personality clash

3. Skill Deficiency
 Indicators
Poor communication skills
Unable to express themselves
Not talking to others respectfully
Not listening to others
 Effects
 Lack of ability to talk and listen to others
respectfully leads to a tense workplace with
inflexible employees

4. Different Interests
People are different, no two people the
same
Different backgrounds
Different life experiences
Different needs and wants
Compromises must be made by all
otherwise these differences can lead to
conflicts

5. Stress
Everyone experiences stress of some type
Employees refrain from speaking up
Fear of retaliation for speaking up
Fear of negative impacts on their job

6. Organizational Deficiency
 Many workplaces today need the following in order
to help employees deal with conflicts
Training for employees to learn the skills needed to
resolve conflict
 Procedures in place that each employee has
access to where there are steps outlined which are
designed to help employees deal with conflict

7. Lack of Resources
In today’s workplace, resources are limited
Workers are expected to do more with less
Leads to competition and conflict

8. Personality Clash
Some people just cannot get along
There are those employees who just love to
“push the buttons” of others which often
times lead to conflict

9. Citation
Glover, Paul. What We Have Here Is a
Failure to Communicate: Recognizing the
Sources of Conflict. Retrieved from
http://www.businessperform.com/articles/w
orkplace-communication/failure-communicate.
html