Conflicts arise in teams when individuals are not having their needs met and are pursuing self-interest. As a leader, it is important to understand the underlying causes of conflicts and actively listen to all perspectives. The leader should gather objective information on how the conflict is affecting work, focus on work issues rather than personalities, and brainstorm solutions where all parties have input. The goal is to negotiate a mutually agreeable solution through open discussion and compromise, using techniques like win-win negotiation to find outcomes that satisfy all individuals. Resolving conflicts effectively requires remaining calm, patient, and respectful throughout the process.
Conflicts arise in teams when individuals are not having their needs met and are pursuing self-interest. As a leader, it is important to understand the underlying causes of conflicts and actively listen to all perspectives. The leader should gather objective information on how the conflict is affecting work, focus on work issues rather than personalities, and brainstorm solutions where all parties have input. The goal is to negotiate a mutually agreeable solution through open discussion and compromise, using techniques like win-win negotiation to find outcomes that satisfy all individuals. Resolving conflicts effectively requires remaining calm, patient, and respectful throughout the process.
Conflicts arise in teams when individuals are not having their needs met and are pursuing self-interest. As a leader, it is important to understand the underlying causes of conflicts and actively listen to all perspectives. The leader should gather objective information on how the conflict is affecting work, focus on work issues rather than personalities, and brainstorm solutions where all parties have input. The goal is to negotiate a mutually agreeable solution through open discussion and compromise, using techniques like win-win negotiation to find outcomes that satisfy all individuals. Resolving conflicts effectively requires remaining calm, patient, and respectful throughout the process.
If you have a conflict in your team, as a leader how will you
resolve that conflict?
Successful teams are the unification of many different individuals into an organized unit. Conflict occurs when individuals or groups are not obtaining what they need or want and are seeking their own self-interest. Sometimes the individual is not aware of the need and unconsciously starts to act out. Other times, the individual is very aware of what he or she wants and actively works at achieving the goal. Conflicts are part of individual relationships and organizational development, and no relationship or organization can hope to mature to productivity and be successful without being able to resolve conflicts effectively. Facilitating conflict resolution is a skill all team leaders should understand. As a leader, a starting point for dealing with conflict is to identify the overriding conflict style employed by the team. First of all, it is important to make sure people understand that the conflict may be a mutual problem, which may be best resolved through discussion and negotiation rather than through raw aggression. It is important to listen actively to ensure that the team members positions and perceptions can be heard and understood, as well as talk using an adult, assertive approach rather than a submissive or aggressive style. Next, we should gather information i.e., trying to get to the underlying interests, needs, and concerns. Ask for the other person's viewpoint and confirm that we respect his or her opinion and need his or her cooperation to solve the problem. Also, trying to understand the conflict in objective terms: Is it affecting work performance? Damaging the delivery to the client? Disrupting team work? Hampering decision-making? Be sure to focus on work issues and leave personalities out of the discussion. We also need to agree the problems that we are trying to solve before we find a mutually acceptable solution. Brainstorming for a possible solution is helpful, if everyone is going to feel satisfied with the resolution, it will help if everyone has had fair input in generating solutions. We should be open to all ideas, including ones we never considered before Next step should be to negotiate a solution; by this stage the conflict may be resolved. Both sides may better understand the position of the other and mutually satisfactory solution may be clear to all. However we may also have uncovered real differences between your positions. This is where a technique like win-win negotiation can be useful in finding a solution which at least to some extent, satisfies everyone. Thus there are three guiding principles to resolve a conflict : Be Calm, Be Patient, and Have Respect.