Signs of Impending Conflict:Learning to Mitigate By Emotional Competence

If you can, as they say, head the conflict off at the pass, before it gets to be a huge problem, you

are one step ahead of the game. In order to be able to do this, you have to understand how to

learn the warning signs of conflict. Once you recognize the warning signs of conflict, then you

will know how to be able to mitigate the factors that are resulting in the conflict.

Some of the early warning signs of a conflict are:

• Behavior Changes
• Lack of Communication
• Lack of productivity in work or home

You may first notice behavior changes in another person that begin to escalate towards conflict.

For example, if you work with another person with whom you have lunch every day and they

suddenly stop having lunch with you, this can lead to conflict.

The behavior changes are usually coupled with lack of communication. Both precipitate a

conflict. The lack of communication, when coupled with behavior changes are bound to start a

conflict. If this pattern continues, there will most likely be less productivity at work if this is

occurring in a work environment. If at home, there may also be less productivity coupled with

silent animosity.  

If you are an emotionally competent person, you will learn to exercise your communication skills to stop

the conflict right in its tracks.