Avoiding Conflict
... easiest and most straightforward ways to deal with conflict before it escalates. To accomplish this, the textbook Tools for Teams suggests “putting the situation in its proper perspective.” (Thompson, et al 2000 p. 163) One way to accomplish this is by examining both sides of an issue in a non-partisan manner. Once this has been done, the issue becomes clearer and it becomes easier to decide how much weight to give to the issue. Another way of heading off conflict is to clear the air. This can be accomplished by effectively communicating the components of the conflict to the team. By clearing the air, one can effectively determine whether or not the conflict is relevant to the successful completion of the team goal. In this manner, the team can assess the issue and make a group decision as to whether or not to pursue the issue. Questions about the relevance of the conflict to the team goal can help in clearing the air. Questions such as: Is this issue relevant to the goal we are trying to accomplish? Agreeing to disagree can be useful when the conflict at hand is not a gating issue to the successful completion of a team goal. The most important thing to remember in a situation such as this is to keep in mind that ones personal agenda is not necessarily the agenda agreed to for the team. To determine if a conflict is personal or not, it is important to note where the conflict stems from. Is the conflict the result of personal differences or not? By differentiating between ones personal differences and those related attaining a team goal, the team dynamic is preserved. Readdressing the issue assumes that an issue has arisen in the ...