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If you are driving change, conflict is inevitable. If you are not driving change, you are not adding a whole lot of value in the workplace.

You or your co-worker may come to work every day and pray that you get thru the day without getting into an argument or fight or unpleasant interaction. This is a defensive approach and you are simply breeding fear and passiveness in yourself.

In most cases, it is not necessary to “go to war” or “take off your gloves” to foster change. In most cases conflict will arise due to one of the following reasons:

• Change management process not followed. There are systematic ways to bring about change, if you try to rush thru the steps, trouble will follow.
• An interpersonal conflict. Your co-worker does not like you or does not trust you. Be careful with this conclusion, it is not as common as you may think. It is a symptom, because most people are reasonable and will listen to a good suggestion.
• Poor communication skills. You did not listen and respond to the question, and now your audience is irritated and annoyed. You did not explain yourself carefully, now your audience is confused and frustrated.

Bottom line: don’t start with the assumption that you need to avoid conflict. Pick the change efforts you need to put your weight behind and follow a systematic plan to execute. Troubleshoot the reason for the conflict and deal with it, do not avoid it.