Notes

Conflict Summary 20389221

Work conflict.

My conflict is one that I recently experienced through the workplace, which is easily one of the largest epicenters in which conflicts occur, in my opinion. The conflicted occurred once I was placed on the overnight shift. All was going well, and I was paired up with another co-worker to be in charge of managing our web site, and providing customer support on a 24/7 basis. We had split up our duties, and were working like a well oiled machine, for the first few days.

Slowly, day by day, he began to deflect his prior duties to me, and abuse his position of seniority in the company, He began delegating mostly, if not every major responsibility to me, and instead, would sleep throughout the entire shift. As I had just recently started work here, I did not want to cause a storm of issues and controversy regarding my partner, who had already gained the trust of his coworkers through his time at the company.

I ignored this conflict for a couple weeks, which I understand may have not have been the best approach. Finally, when it got to a point where I was literally doing all of the work, I brought it up to my manager. He responded seeming rather shocked, but also quite considerate of my position. He told me that it was obvious something was going on, as they could track the work distribution through the shift. My partner was spoken to and they addressed the issue. From then on, the conflict was completely resolved without any hard feelings between the both of us.

After we hashed things out, we continued to work together in a more efficient, and appropriate work environment. This experience taught me that work is all about politics, and learning how to interact in a beneficial way to yourself, without bringing harm to others. As controversial this may sound, it taught me that it is better to ease into presenting evidence of an ongoing conflict when necessary (to management), than to jump in without considering any, and all repercussions. both socially among your coworkers, yet still realizing the responsibility we have as integral parts of a company. It is one to behave in a solely righteous way, but a skill to play that same behavior off in a friendly and responsive way.