"How to manage conflict in teamwork"
IT IS NOT ALWAYS ABOUT BEING RIGHT
Working with a team is not always easy. It involves a number of people with thinking and behaving uniquely from one another. Given the situation, conflicts could be inevitable. Victory with regards to managing conflict at work should be a shared one that shares common ground in belief, and goals.
Seeing the other individual or the team on the opposite side as your rival will fate the two gatherings to remain foes, and it will result in eliminating any possibility of a beneficial outcome.
Conflict, when dealt accordingly, can add better experiences about your group, customer’s desires, or communication styles, which can arm you with the best data to discover goals that are best for the customer, the group, and the venture.
IDENTIFY THE ROOT CAUSE
Even professionals and industry experts make mistakes. One great advantage of teamwork is that you have the support of other colleagues to find them and even correct them. Before blaming the person for his or her mistakes focus more on its root cause. Did this individual have the correct data to carry out their responsibility accurately? Did your procedure go about as they ordinarily should? Was there a type of loss of setting when data changed hands?
It is more profitable and time saving to focus on the process and developing its efficiency so the team can be more responsible about their assigned duties and responsibilities.
RECOGNISE THE EMOTIONS OF YOU AND YOUR TEAM
As humans, we often tend to be irrational. Taking a few minutes to identify the situation and emotions might help you and teammates to handle situations and conflicts better.
For instance, a team member might be angry because of communication issues of the team or even due to his personal crisis. Identifying the situation and approaching the root cause of the emotions gives a better chance to avoid unnecessary conflicts in the work environment.
COLLABORATE WITH THE OTHER PARTY
Misunderstandings can cause conflicts. Communication styles, tones and different interpretations of situations might create disputes among co-workers.
Because we live in a digital world, it is possible that the only communication method of the teammates is through digital modes. This can fuel the entanglements of interpersonal and team conflicts where there are diverse identities, communication preferences, and thus more opportunities for communication breakdown and conflict.
PERFECT TIMING
Timing matters. Even though it could be challenging it is essential to find the right time. It is better to avoid the times when the emotions of the team are running high but it is also not effective to let negative feelings marinate among the team. Don’t force people into dialogues before they’re ready especially if they have a personality of an introvert but you might not want to waste all your time on waiting.
This is why it is important to collaborate with the other party to make sure what the best opportunity for a discussion is.
LEGITIMISE AND ECHO FEELINGS
When handling conflict with a co-worker it is important that you think in his or her shoes and recognise it out loud so they can feel that you are an active listener. Your way of listening helps to convey the message that you understand their viewpoint or give them the opportunity to point out the discrepancies in your understanding.
This will help to resolve not only the conflict at hand but it will create a successful open space to deal with future conflicts.
GOAL – ORIENTED CONVERSATIONS
Even though this method is mostly overlooked in many organisations, when handling conflict with a co-worker it is beneficial and they are more open to discussion when you surface your goal.
For instance, rather than just saying “I want to check on the process” it will be more successful and conflict-free to say “I want to take a look at our process so we can catch this next time”.
Other than these, by opening channels to address conflicts, learning from the experience and finding an opportunity to admit you were wrong or what you could have done better will provide less space for a conflict to arise at the workplace among your teammates.