Conflict management styles of the leaders.

Build cooperation among teams by learning conflict management styles of the leaders. Team members should fully understand the nature of the job role they are asked to perform. Conflict can arise when confusion is present among team members as it pertains to job roles. Job role understanding should be communicated from leadership. Team members will be more willing to cooperate if they understand their role communicated from leadership (Kanazawa & Fontaine, 2013). To build cooperation, leaders should understand their conflict management style.

Kanazawa, S., & Fontaine, L. (2013). Intelligent people defect more in a one-shot prisoner’s dilemma game. Journal of Neuroscience, Psychology and Economics, 6(3), 201-213.

doi:10.1037/npe0000010

The Use of purposeful communication

Increase communication among all teams by utilizing purposeful communication. Confronting issues and providing feedback is a form of purposeful communication. Purposeful communication is when a team member uses sensitivity and forethought when communicating a clear and concise message with a soothing tone that maintains a positive relationship for both parties involved (Cox, 2014; Wilson Learning Worldwide, 2007; & Singleton et al., 2011). Purposeful communication is communicating with tact and getting the point across without aggression and rudeness.

Cox, A. (2014). Increasing Purposeful Communication in the Workplace: Two School-District

Models. Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin, 80(3), 34-38.

Singleton, R., Toombs, L. A., Taneja, S., Larkin, C., & Pryor, M. G. (2011). Workplace conflict:

A strategic leadership imperative. International Journal of Business & Public

Administration, 8(1), 149-163

Wilson Learning Worldwide. (2007). Individual effectiveness: Creating the effective workforce.

Edina, MN.

Reducing workplace conflict

Reduce workplace conflict by creating a conflict management strategy/program. Conflict management involves a wide range of activities which include communication, problem-solving, dealing with emotions, and understanding the roles/positions teammates have (Behfar, Mannix, Peterson, & Trochim, 2008). Creating a conflict management strategy/program will allow a safe place for employees to learn responsibility for their actions and how to handle them. How are you handling conflict management in your organization? Do you have a conflict management strategy/program?

Behfar, K., Peterson, R. Mannix, E, & Trochim, W. (2008). The critical role of conflict

resolution in teams: A close look at the links between conflict type, conflict management

strategies, and team outcomes. Journal of Applied Psychology, 93(1): 170-188.

What is conflict?

Conflict has many definitions. Conflict is can be known as a misunderstanding, disagreement, argument, an interruption in schedule, or a mental struggle to understand another’s point of view. Merriam Webster defines conflict as a competitive or opposing action of incompatibles: antagonistic state or action (as of divergent ideas, interests, or persons). Conflict cannot be avoided and they ARE going to happen. Over the next three weeks, we will explore some strategies to of how to handle conflict in the workplace.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conflict