What is the recommended approach to resolving a workplace conflict between two airmen?

• A. Avoid discussing the issue and document it as a non-issue.
• B. Reassign one airman to remove the source of conflict.
• C. Facilitate open communication, identify root causes, and agree on a corrective action plan with follow-up.
• D. Punish both airmen to deter further conflicts.

Answer: (C)

Effective workplace conflict resolution centers on addressing issues openly and with a plan. Facilitating open communication lets both airmen share perceptions, concerns, and needs in a controlled setting, which helps uncover what’s truly driving the clash. Identifying root causes goes beyond the surface disagreement to reveal factors like unclear roles, miscommunication, or workload pressure. Once the underlying issues are understood, agreeing on a corrective action plan with clear responsibilities, timelines, and a follow-up schedule creates accountability and ensures changes are implemented and evaluated for effectiveness.

Avoiding discussion or letting tensions fester doesn’t resolve the problem and can worsen trust and morale. Simply reassigning one airman might remove the symptom temporarily but doesn’t fix the underlying issue or improve team dynamics. Punishing both airmen can undermine trust and morale and may not address inappropriate behaviors or the communication gaps that caused the conflict in the first place.