Understanding Three Types of Conflict—and How to Keep Them from Becoming an Office Reality Show   Conflict happens. Whether it’s a clash of ideas, personalities, or processes, how we handle it can mean the difference between a productive breakthrough and a cringe-worthy episode of "Workplace Dramas: The Never Ending Story." Conflict happens. Whether it’s a clash of ideas, personalities, or processes, how we handle it can mean the difference between a productive breakthrough and a cringe-worthy episode of "Workplace Dramas: The Never Ending Story." The first step? Identifying the type of conflict you’re dealing with. Let’s break it down. 1. Task Conflict – Innovation in Disguise Task conflict pops up when people disagree about what needs to be done. It’s the classic brainstorming session scenario—one person envisions a sleek PowerPoint masterpiece, another sees an elaborate 50-page report, and someone in the corner just wants a decision. While it might feel li...