Dealing with Conflict in Work Teams

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Dealing with Conflict in Work Teams

Conflict will always exist when a group or team is composed with different people with different approaches and ideas with dealing with situations. Learning to work together with dealing with conflict can and will provide your group or team with a quick resolution. Conflict can not be avoided and is inevitable in letting a team develop and provide a constructive and possibly beneficial outcome in managing the conflict.

When we generally think of conflict it is a very negative thought about the team member. Usually there is arguing, yelling or disagreeing which can make others feel uncomfortable. Learning how to deal and handle these disagreements constructively will usually improve the productivity and create new ideas and help develop personality of other in the team. Each team will go through stages of growth and development. "Team conflict can be resolved quickly and effectively and only requires one key ingredient and that is a team leader who can diagnose a team within stages of team development and choose from an array of effective team leadership skills." (Warren, Jon) Letting the team members get to know each other in forming better a workable group with the support and direction of the leader.

There are many stages in dealing with conflict. The start of the conflict is the storming stage which is dealing when the conflict starts, then norming stage will let the team members start to work out there differences and the leader should try to be there and be supportive for the group. Lastly the performing part is when the whole team can move forward and work together and then the leader can finally be supportive and directive.

When a conflict arises there are different approaches in handling the situations. When the conflict is beginning, it is best to deal with the problem so it does not get out of hand. Here is a list of different ways in trying to overcome a conflict (Swales, Cheri)

1. attack the problem not the team member

2. focus on what can be done, not on what can not be done

3. listen to understand the other personâ??s point of view before giving your own

4. show respect for the other personâ??s point of view

5. solve the problem while building the relationship

If the conflict gets out of hand, the group probably needs to take a break and get back at a later date and time....

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Hastings, Colin. Training in Team working Skills Industrial & Commercial Training, Mar1983, Vol. 15 Issue 3, p86, 4p; Abstract http:// UOP Library EBSCOhost

Kennedy, Michael. (1998). Managing conflict in Work Teams. CSWT Papers

Mitchell, Rex C., Ph.D. (2002) Constructive Management of Conflict in Groups

Prager, (1999, December) Training & Development, Cooking up Effective Team Building, pp. 14-15Archived at http:// UOP Library EBSCOhost

Roebuck, Deborah Britt; Brock, Stephen J.; Moodie, Douglas R. Using a Simulation to Explore the Challenge of Communication in a Virtual Team Business Communication Quarterly, Sep2004, Vol. 67 Issue 3, p359, 9p http:// UOP Library EBSCOhost

Swales, Cheri. (2004) Overcome Team Conflict. Monster Career Center

Townsley, Carole A. Resolving Conflict in Work Teams. RV Armstrong and Associates

Week, Dudley. (1992). The Conflict Resolution Process.

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