Conflict is an inevitable part of any team dynamic. Whether it’s due to competing priorities, clashing personalities, or simply the stress of a heavy workload, conflict is something that every team leader and member must learn to navigate effectively. But how do you resolve conflict effectively with high-performing teams?
Here are some effective key strategies for resolving conflict and creating a culture of collaboration and mutual respect:
Embrace conflict: Conflict is that it is a natural and necessary part of any team dynamic. According to a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management:
- 29% of employees deal with conflict almost constantly
- 34% of conflict occurs among front-line employees
- 34% of conflict is caused by stress in the workplace.
These numbers demonstrate how often conflict is present on teams. Instead of trying to eliminate conflict entirely, make the goal of the workplace to be “conflict-embracing.” By acknowledging the role that conflict plays in driving progress and growth, teams can learn to navigate it more effectively.
Bring people together: An effective ways to handle conflicts is by fostering collaboration and building a sense of community among team members. By providing opportunities for team members to come together and work towards a common goal, conflicts can be resolved more efficiently and stronger relationships can be built among team members.
Avoid assumptions: When team members make assumptions about one another’s motives or intentions, it can lead to misunderstandings and further conflict. To avoid assumptions, team members should strive to communicate openly and honestly with one another. This can help to build trust and understanding, and ultimately lead to more effective conflict resolution.
Advocate for change persuasively: A great way to resolve conflict effectively is to advocate for change persuasively. This means presenting your ideas and concerns clearly and calmly, and making a compelling case for why change is needed. By doing this, team members can help to build support for their ideas and ultimately achieve a resolution that is in the best interest of the team.
Plan to make it successful: When it comes to resolving conflict, it’s important to plan for success. This means identifying the root causes of the conflict, setting clear goals, and developing a plan of action. By taking a strategic approach to resolving conflict, teams can ensure that they are able to achieve a resolution that is in the best interest of all parties involved.
Always keep improving: Conflict resolution is an ongoing process, and teams should continuously strive to improve their skills and strategies. This can involve seeking out training, seeking feedback, and learning from past conflicts. By doing this, teams can build a culture of collaboration and mutual respect, and become more effective at navigating and resolving conflict.
In conclusion, high-performing teams and successful leaders understand that the key to effectively managing conflict is for all team members to work together towards a common goal. When a team loses sight of this shared objective, conflicts tend to arise. By keeping the team’s goal in mind and working towards it together, conflicts can be resolved effectively.
Lead From Within: Conflict is a natural part of any team dynamic, but how we approach and resolve it as leaders and team members will ultimately determine the success of our high-performing teams.
#1 N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
The Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
- 12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
- A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
- How to Succeed as A New Leader
- 12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
- 4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
- The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
- The Deception Trap of Leadership
Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.