Conflicts are bound to happen in any relationship and team setting. They arise due to differences in opinions, and the inability to settle the matter in a positive manner. Resolving these conflicts takes experience, time, and some Emotional Intelligence (EQ).
The important thing to note is that in different scenarios, there are different ways to solve conflicts – there is no ‘sure-win’ way. Even the most obvious of solutions can backfire and worsen the conflict situation.
So here’s a hypothetical conflict scenario:
The scene takes place in an office. Mike the manager needs to form a team, including himself, for a certain project his department is tasked with. Mike looks through the list of employees he has in his department, and concludes that the best two people for the job are John and Nancy.
John has been in the company for 10 years, and has formed a close rapport with Mike; they are close friends, and he has the most experience on the job. Nancy has only been in the company for almost a year, but she has brought contemporary and challenging ideas to the department. Mike also has a fancy for Nancy (he likes her, and she seems to be reciprocating too).
After a few months into the project, John and Nancy begin to clash in terms of ideas and opinions. Over a few weeks, the disagreements get worse and turn into massive arguments. All this while at the meetings, Mike always sits back and just let’s things play out; he doesn’t want to take sides. However, the deadline for the project is looming, and not much has been done because of the conflict.
One day, the argument gets so bad, that John and Nancy both tell Mike that they will walk out if they have to continue working together, and force Mike to make a decision to get one of them off the team.
Question: With the relationship that Mike has with John and Nancy, he is having difficulty deciding on whom to boot off the team. He decides that it is too close to the deadline to boot someone off. He decides instead to attempt to resolve the conflict. If you were Mike, how would you do so?
it is definitely a difficult decision for mike to make. however, i think mike has to be firm on knowing what is best for the team and the company. in life, we are always put the to test of making good and sound decisions, failure to do so will result in severe implications. if i am to be mike, i will solve the clashes with an objective mind. not taking sides as both john and nancy are important members of his life.
ReplyDeleteAs the manager of the firm, Mike is responsible to ensure task is finished. Though having personal relationships with both John and Nancy, I will take the position that makes best for the company. I will talk both of them over personally as it is not possible to finish without their contribution. Though they may be not happy working with each other but the task must be dealt as it is a business. In hope that they can understand this is not a personal matter and too late to change team players, I will try to make the job done then deal with the personal issues afterwards.
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