Negative Effects of Conflict in an Organization
Mental Health Concerns,
A decrease in Productivity,
Members Leave Organization,
Violence,
Distract Primary Purposes, and
Psychological Problem.
Mental Health Concerns
Conflict within an organization can cause members to become frustrated if they feel as if there’s no solution in sight, or if they feel that their opinions go unrecognized by other group members.
As a result, members become stressed, which adversely affects their professional and personal lives.
Organization members may have problems sleeping, loss of appetite or overeating, headaches and become unapproachable. In some instances, organization members may avoid meetings to prevent themselves from experiencing stress and stress-related symptoms.
Decrease in Productivity
When an organization spends much of its time dealing with conflict, members take time away from focusing on the core goals they are tasked with achieving.
Conflict causes members to focus less on the project at hand and more on gossiping about conflict or venting about frustrations.
As a result, organizations can lose money, donors and access to essential resources.
Members Leave Organization
Organization members who are increasingly frustrated with the level of conflict within an organization may decide to end their membership. This is especially detrimental when members are a part of the executive board or heads of committees
Once members begin to leave, the organization has to recruit new members and appoint acting board members.
In extreme cases, where several members leave or an executive board steps down, organizations risk dissolution.
Violence
When conflict escalates without mediation, intense situations may arise, between organization members. It’s unfortunate, but organizational conflicts may cause violence among members, resulting in legal problems for members and possibly the organization.
Distract Primary Purposes
Conflict can distract individuals and groups from their primary purposes, leaving them with less time and resources for other activities.
When a conflict involves the use of “heavy contentious tactics,” it can cause the individuals or groups involved in the conflict as well as individuals or groups not involved in the conflict to divert time and resources away from other needs.
Psychological Problem
Conflict can have both short term and long term effects on the physical and psychological health of the individuals involved in or affected by the conflict.
In worst-case scenarios the psychological consequences can include deep trauma and diminished coping mechanisms.
