Personality Conflicts 1

Personality Conflicts and the Business Professionals Brenda Harkins North Western Oklahoma State University Abstract Research shows human beings personalities are represented by types. Early years of research psychologist believed there were only two personality types, A. Extrovert and B. Introvert. Todays researchers believe there are as many as what they call the Big Five personality dimensions. These five dimensions not only address personalities as being extroverted and introverted they go further into the emotional part of personality traits, such as being, good-natured, well-adjusted and secure. When there are those many variables placed in a conflict situation it can be intense and sometimes hard to get to the bottom of the real underlining problem. All these volatile things placed in a work environment can become very challenging to control and manage. Studies show if one can see their own personality traits and know them well. They can be successful in controlling substantive and personality conflicts in the work place.

Personality Conflicts 2 Personality Conflicts and the Business Professional All Businesses have employees that represent almost all human beings and with each comes a package called personality, which is unique to each and every one of them. When you place all of these different and unique human beings in one place you naturally have or will have some type of conflict, whether it is substantive or personalized. Each of these conflicts can be resolved. The issue is how these conflicts are resolved and the outcome is satisfiable to all parties, and business as usual can continue harmoniously for all employees.

Statement of Problem and Definitions of Terms Problem Statement Most Human beings spend a measurable time of each day and week with work colleagues. Often times these colleagues are not as cooperative as one would like them to be. They are not all molded from one cast. The purpose of this research is to look at the roll personality conflicts play in the business professional arena, and how to help overcome these conflicts by knowing more about personality traits and types. How to reason and communicate so each personality type will come to a common understanding. While at the same time eliminating future conflicts that could or will arise from human beings not understanding, each and every human being has their own and unique personality traits.

Personality Conflicts 3 Research Question Are personality conflicts the most challenging and happen more often than any other conflicts in the business professional workplace?

Definitions Personality is defined as the state or quality of being a person - the totality of qualities and traits as of character or behavior, that are peculiar to an individual or person. Conflict is a state of disagreement and disharmony, clash, the opposition or simultaneous functioning of mutually exclusive impulses, desires or tendencies. Extraversion is the degree to which a person is outgoing, sociable, talkative, and comfortable meeting and talking to new people. Agreeableness is the degree to which a person is able to get along with others by being good-natured, cooperative, forgiving, compassionate, understanding, and trusting. Conscientiousness is the degree to which a person is responsible, dependable, persistent, and achievement-oriented. Emotional stability is the degree to which a person is well adjusted, calm, and secure. Openness to experience is the degree to which a person has a broad range of interests and is imaginative, creative, and willing to consider new ideas.

Personality Conflicts 4 Substantive conflict is a conflict that can be backed up with research and that is based on real facts. Personalized conflict is a conflict fuelled primarily by emotion, usually anger, frustration and perceptions about someone elses personality, character or motives. Attitude is an evaluation either positive or negative about people, events or things. Self-concept is the collection of attitudes we have about ourselves; includes selfesteem and whether a person generally has a positive or negative feeling about himself/herself. Statement of the Hypothesis It is hypothesized that most conflicts in the business professional arena is due to personality conflicts of individual human beings and has little to do with the work itself. All human beings have a personality which is a unique trait to each and every human being. Review of the Related Literature Some researchers have placed a type system to certain quality traits of ones personality. Reviewed researcher Michael E. Carpenter found the following: Personality types are A-goal oriented, B- wants everyone to like them, C-detailed oriented and Dresist to change. Corexcel Linking Learning to Performance research also found four personality types as well but they classified them by numbers, being 1-Dominance-direct and decisive, 2-Influence-optimistic and outgoing, 3-Steadiness-sympathetic and cooperative and 4-Conscientiousness-concerned and correct. Finally, titled The

Personality Conflicts 5 Leadership Experience we are using for this class claims the Big Five personality dimensions which are 1-Extraversion-outgoing and sociable, 2-Agreeableness-goodnatured and cooperative, 3-Conscientiousness-responsible and dependable, 4-Emotional stability-calm and secure and 5-Openess to experience-imaginative and creative. When you wade through all of this I conclude: In lemans terms, personality makes us who we are and how we behave to inside and outside stimuli. Conflict by definition does not always mean it is bad to be conflicting. A Substantive conflict is the disagreeable clash; this conflict simply means two parties are not going to agree. Good example of this is the two governing bodies of the United States right now, seems as though they cant even agree on the sun rising in the east. Although this type of conflict can be good and can create something both interested parties can be proud of if the resolution is handled properly. Personalized conflict is fuelled by emotion and not issues, so problem solving rarely works, because neither party is really interested in solving the problem. They simply dont like one another. Most conflicts could probably be solved relatively easy if every player did not view the conflict as something to win. I see personality conflicts unfold daily with business professional. An example: Today two ladies both with extroversion traits, characteristics and attitudes to boot. One needed information from the other. Now keep in mind this is all done via email. The response to the requested information was direct and to the point, no frills answer. The one receiving the information was offended by what information she received and her response was to take it to the other ladies boss and complain. Her complaint went something like this. I try my best to get along with everyone and be courteous to all even

Personality Conflicts 6 or especially in emails, because one can often misinterpret meanings in written words. Analysis: This lady is observant enough to know in her mind that you cannot always know the true meaning behind a persons written words, but she let feelings be the guide in which she followed. Also she doesnt have enough insight about her own self to know given a different situation she is and can be just as direct as the other lady. These types of conflicts in the work place could be kept to a minimum if all human beings took a little more time and did a true self-concept analysis from time to time.

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References The American Heritage Dictionary 2nd College Edition, Houghton Mifflin Company Personality Types, Michael E. Carpenter http://www.ehow.com/facts_5969149_personal-conflict_.html 4 Personality Types: Who is the Most Effective? Corexcel- Linking Learning to Performance http://www.corexcel.com/articles/html/disc_personality_types.htm Work 911-Is Conflict & Cooperation In The Workplace http://www.work911.com/cgi-bin/links/jump.cgi?ID=1979 The Leadership Experience-5th Edition, Richard L. Daft.

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