Conflict at work: how support staff can handle it

Within our working lives, and in our relationships with colleagues, patients, and stakeholders, our interactions will not always be harmonious. However, support workers should not shy away from conflict, but recognize it as an opportunity to develop practice and improve quality. This article will start by examining what conflict is. It will then move on to dispel some of the myths surrounding conflict, before looking at how individuals respond to conflict situations. Causes of negative conflict will be discussed, before highlighting how it can be used constructively and why support workers should embrace it in a positive way.