Conflicts in Teams

Published: Jan 24, 2019

The best executives and managers can't allow enthusiasm in team situations to give rise to conflicts.

From Cy Charney’s book The Manager’s Tool Kit, we have these suggestions to reduce conflict within teams.
  • Focus on facts and information rather than rumors and feelings.
  • Involve people in changes that you make. Listen to and understand their interests, objectives, and concernsKeep communication open and objective to reduce potential suspicion and hostility.
  • Deal with issues that are hard to discuss; otherwise, the problem will intensify.
  • Resolve immediately issues that prevent completion of obligations by the targeted date.
  • Encourage conflict between your associates that relates to ideas. Discourage interpersonal conflict.
  • Ensure that your people understand how conflict will be dealt with when it arises.
  • Keep your ear to the ground. Tap into the grapevine so that you can identify issues before they get blown out of proportion. Deal with these issues before they become disruptive.
  • Establish ground rules for your team. For example, members don’t have to like each other, but they should respect each other.