Conflict Experience

 

In my workplace, the floors are arranged in a honeycomb of interlocking cubicles where employees share walls, and can hear everyone else’s conversations and exclamations.  In my great unfortune, of the thousands of employees in the company, I am seated at a cubicle sharing a wall with an incessant talker.  Not just any talker, but a talker that only talks about himself.  Usually, I just sit in my cubicle, happily working away.  However, on one particular day, my overly verbal coworker would not stop talking about his love of exercise, diminishing body fat percentage, and all around physical fitness for solid hours, to anyone who would listen.  I sat quietly trying to tune out his unhelpful diatribes for a few hours with the help of my iPod, before I told him angrily to “shut up!” over the wall of our cubicle.  He quickly replied, “turn on you headphones!”  I, just as angrily answered, “they’re on!”  He replied, “ well, turn them up!!”.  At that point I just said forget it, and took my 15-minute break in the hopes that it would all be over by the time I got back to my desk. 

 

Why the Conflict Occurred

I believe the conflict occurred because the norms of my culture differ greatly from the perceived norms of my co-workers culture (Kreps, 2011).  The norms of my culture enhance a straightforward work environment where goals are accomplished without additional thought or drama.  I assume my co-workers cultural norms dictate that one should have fun at all times, and in all situations, as with the aforementioned.  He may believe that work is best accomplished while in great mood and while discussing what one best enjoys.    

What Could Have Been Differently

Obviously, I could have found a way in the moment to address the situation that would have been more beneficial to my co-workers needs and myself.  In order to find a resolution, where each of us feel better about the conflict at hand and ourselves, we could have taken appropriates cares for the others well being in order to avoid conflict (Scudder, 2011). Unfortunately, that is not what happened.  In order to avoid a conflict, one must be able to rise above their internal needs and recognize what will best benefit the other persons needs in a conflict situation, rather than their own needs.  I could have reacted with greater tact and possibly engaged my subject eye-to-eye rather than just yelling over a wall.  In the future I will pursue this line of action, rather than lashing out at a faceless voice.    

Kreps. G. (2011). Communication in Organizations. Retrieved May 24, 2012 from https://content.ashford.edu/books/AUCOM425.11.1.

Scudder, T. (2011). Have a nice conflict. Retrieved May 24, 2012 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_E7YVkjJQ0.