Building Teams in the Workplace
I know you’ve heard the saying, “There’s no I in team,” but lately if I don’t state my case I might be out of a job. So where does that leave the team?
Building teams can be very difficult during these economic and stressful times. Recently one of my clients told me about the situation in his office. The team can’t make a collective decision on anything and it is affecting their performance. Some members can’t even have a discussion of the day’s priorities without a major disagreement that ends in shouting. Everyone in the department is tense and accusatory. We don’t have to agree with each other but this is survival time. We have to get back to being a team. This can’t go on….we need HELP!!!!!
I explained to my client that from what he described, the team really needs to manage the internal conflicts that have surfaced. Give the individuals on the team a chance to vent frustrations. After everyone has had a chance to be heard and validated, regroup to complete team business. Continuing to function as they are can and will severely impact the team’s drive to accomplish the goals, resulting in diminished productivity and pride.
Conflict occurs when one or both parties are not obtaining what they want or need and are actively seeking their own end goals. Most conflict is unnecessary, unwarranted and can be avoided. It is neutral – neither good nor bad, right or wrong. It escalates when we don’t take the time to clarify and understand the situation. Open, honest interaction is crucial to get back on tract.
Here are some tools and techniques to use when resolving conflict:
• State the problem as you see it. Have the other person do the same
• Don’t attempt to change the other person
• Keep the focus on job related situations
• Be open and honest
• Ask questions for clarification and understanding
• Brainstorm possible actions
• Paraphrase what you heard
• Give feedback
• Ask for understanding of what has been said
• Ask for commitment or buy-in
• Follow-up
Hope this helps….would love to hear how conflict is managed in your workplace!
