LO2 - The Emerging View: Task and Relationship Conflict

• task conflict 


  A type of conflict in which people focus their discussion around the issue (i.e., the “task”) in which different viewpoints occur while showing respect for people involved in that disagreement.
• Task conflict.

  • Focuses on quality of ideas/arguments.​
  • Shows respect for all participants.​
  • Avoids critiquing opponent’s competence or power.
• relationship conflict

  A type of conflict in which people focus their discussion on

  qualities of the people in the dispute, rather than on the

  qualities of the ideas presented regarding a task-related

  issue.
• RELATIONSHIP CONFLICT

  Focuses on (critiques) opponent’s experience, intelligence, credibility.
• RELATIONSHIP CONFLICT

  Invalidate ideas indirectly by attacking the opponent, not the idea.
• RELATIONSHIP CONFLICT

  Relies on status, assertive behaviour.
• Dysfunctional consequences of relationship conflict

  • Triggers defence mechanisms.​
  • Reduces trust: emphasizes interpersonal differences.​
  • Reduces motivation to communicate: escalates conflict.
• Minimizing Relationship Conflict during Task Conflict​

  Goal: encourage task conflict, minimize relationship conflict.
• three conditions potentially minimize the level of

  relationship conflict that occurs during task conflict episodes

  1. Emotional intelligence.
  2. Team development.
  3. Psychological safety team norms.
• Emotional intelligence


  • Better at regulating emotions, less hostility.​
  • Better at reframing other’s hostility.
• Team development.

  • Better mutual understanding.​
  • High cohesion: motivation to minimize relationship conflict.
•  Psychological safety team norms.

  • Perceived safety to constructively disagree.​
  • Norms encourage respect, show interest, open-minded.
• psychological safety


  A shared belief that it is safe to engage in interpersonal

  risk-taking; specifically, that presenting unusual ideas, constructively disagreeing with the majority, and experimenting with new work behaviours will not result in co-workers posing a threat to one’s self-concept, status, or career.