The CEO identifies the top warning sign she observes in employees: Collaborating with this individual often leads to difficulties.

In the workplace, Shizu Okusa identifies one individual as a significant warning sign among the various types of people.

According to Okusa, founder and CEO of Apothékary, a person who communicates poorly, especially during a conflict or disagreement, is someone who she dislikes. She particularly dislikes when people publicly criticize their peers at work, as it rarely fosters constructive dialogue and can often lead to conflict.

"According to Okusa, whose company generated $20 million in revenue over nine months last year, it's easy to jump into a meeting with many people and call someone out when something bad happens. However, doing so never ends well."

In a movie or real-life situation, a boss may use an employee's poor work as an example during a team meeting, while a colleague may publicly criticize another employee for not contributing to a significant project.

To enhance productivity and achieve success at work, learn how to apply AI technology.

Employees who witness conflict may feel uncomfortable and potentially create an HR issue for a hostile work environment.

Invite them to talk more privately and address your concerns with them directly, so the two of you can discuss without fear of embarrassment or judgment from others.

"Okusa believes that most things fail due to poor communication, and managers should set a positive standard for culture and communication. According to Okusa, things could have been said or shared better, or the context could have been off."

How to constructively solve work conflicts

If you prefer to get things done in advance and your colleague waits until the last minute, you can probably address your concern with a short one-on-one meeting, said Kleiman. If your issue is with a person's character or personality, you may want to limit your interactions, keep things brief, and maintain a professional demeanor.

"Ng stated that no manager wakes up in the morning with the intention of making their team's lives as miserable as possible. Instead, they consider how to accomplish their work while also maintaining a happy life."

Sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to receive expert advice on work, money, and life.