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WA5. Conflict with a Coworker

Statement

You and a coworker have been assigned to work on a project together for the first time. As you start collaborating, you notice that your coworker tends to take over discussions, dismisses your ideas, and often interrupts you during meetings. This behavior is making it difficult for you to effectively contribute to the project and is causing frustration on your end.

  1. How would you approach the initial conversation with your coworker about the problematic behaviors observed during your project collaboration, ensuring that your concerns are addressed while maintaining professionalism and respect?
  2. Reflecting on your experience with your coworker, what are some key indicators of a healthy working relationship? How do these indicators align with effective collaboration and communication within a professional setting? Provide relevant examples to support your answer.
  3. After implementing strategies to address the conflict with your coworker, how would you assess the effectiveness of your communication and conflict resolution skills in fostering a positive working relationship?
  4. What specific actions or outcomes would indicate progress towards improved collaboration and mutual respect?

Answer

Introduction

A conflict is an interaction between two parties (individuals, groups, or organizations) over a real or virtual goals, scarce resources, or opposing viewpoints. Conflicts are natural parts of human life and they differ in severity but conflicts are inevitable, require energy, and have elements of both content and feeling. Many words such as competition, dispute, and violence are used interchangeably with conflict (Scarbrough, 2023).

The scenario presented involves a conflict within a professional setting between two coworkers working on a project. It also involves issues of communication, collaboration, and respect, which are essential parts of professionalism and effective teamwork. The scenario also involves resolving the conflict in a suitable manner that maintains professionalism among the team members.

1. Initial Conversation with Coworker

The issue seems a lack of professionalism from the coworker, but under the hood it is a conflict between my ideas and the coworker’s ideas; hence, conflict resolution strategies can be applied. Conflict resolution is the process of resolving disputes or disagreements between parties in a peaceful and constructive manner.

Effective communication and conflict resolution skills are essential part of conflict resolution incorporated with a strategy such as competing, collaborating, compromising, avoiding, and accommodating; all are put together in a practical framework named STLC, that involves stopping to think very well about strategy while maintaining listening and communication skills (Scarbrough, 2023).

My strategy would be to use the STLC framework in my conversation to resolve the disagreement using the collaborating strategy. I would approach the coworker in a private setting asking the coworker about their behavior expressing my disagreement and willingness to do my part if necessary; and I would prepare my next move based on his reply.

He may claim that he is doing this because I’m unprofessional, talking too much, or contributing with stupid ideas that has bad effect on the whole team; in this case, I would listen and promise to monitor my behavior. He may say that he doesn’t realize doing this and it may be spontaneous, and offers that he would not do it again; in this case, I would thank him and ask him to monitor his behavior.

2. Key Indicators of a Healthy Working Relationship

As we notice, there are multiple scenarios to how the conversation may go, but it is important to listen to the coworker’s perspective, taking enough time to analyze and adjust the strategy, and clearly communicate my feelings and strategy to the coworker.

The positive and collaborative replies from the coworker would indicate a healthy working relationship. A healthy working relationship is characterized by mutual respect, effective communication, collaboration, and a shared goal of achieving success. In a professional setting, adhering to principles of professionalism while focusing on the common goal of maximizing productivity formulate the common ground for referencing the health of the working relationship.

Healthy signs may include that the coworker listens to me and stop doing the bad behavior, or he may offer to work together to find a solution (in case he thinks I’m the problem). These signs align with effective collaboration and communication within a professional setting as they indicate a willingness to work together, respect for each other’s ideas, and a commitment to achieving the project’s goals.

3. Assessing Communication and Conflict Resolution Skills

As mentioned the standard professional behavior will be our reference; while it being slightly adjusted to the specific situation, along with any company policies or guidelines. The effectiveness of my communication and conflict resolution skills can be assessed based on the coworker’s response and the subsequent interactions between us.

If he changes his behavior and our relationship becomes closer to the standard professional behavior, then my skills can be considered effective. If the coworker continues to exhibit the problematic behavior or if the conflict escalates, then I may need to reassess my approach and consider alternative strategies.

4. Progress Towards Improved Collaboration and Mutual Respect

Mutual respect isn’t just about being polite; it’s a proven strategy for better outcomes, faster decisions, and stronger teamwork; while maintaining good team communication and collaboration. Positive trends in any of these areas would indicate progress towards improved collaboration and mutual respect (Larsen & Bates, 2025).

Improved collaboration and mutual respect should display less of the negative unprofessional behavior, more positive interactions, better team results in general. Less negative behavior means reduction in interruptions, dismissals, and taking over discussions that the coworker was doing. More positive interactions would include active listening, effective communication, and a shared commitment to the project’s success. These outcomes would indicate that the conflict has been successfully resolved and that the team is back on track.

Conclusion

In summary, addressing workplace conflicts requires clear communication, mutual respect, and a commitment to collaboration. By applying frameworks such as STLC and choosing a collaborative approach, both parties are empowered to express concerns and listen actively. This not only mitigates immediate tensions but also lays the foundation for a healthier, more productive working relationship.

Progress is evident when communication improves, negative behaviors diminish, and team outcomes benefit. Ultimately, effectively managing conflict transforms challenges into opportunities for professional growth and enhanced teamwork.

References

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