Conflict Resolution in Team Dynamics
Conflict Resolution in Team Dynamics
"No doubt there are other important things in life besides conflict, but there are not many other things so inevitably interesting" ? Robert Lynd (BrainyMedia.com, 2006). Conflict resolution can be one of the greatest challenges and sources of frustration a work team will encounter. Often, when many people are brought together with different backgrounds, personalities, and communicating styles, minor conflicts can become a big problem. Individuals can become competitive and distant, putting the group behind schedule. Unresolved conflict often results in the loss of productivity, creativity, and cooperation. How you handle conflict creates an enormous impact not only on the parties directly involved, but also for the other people indirectly associated through living and working relationships. When team members are trained in the art of conflict management and resolution, they can learn the difference between constructive and destructive conflict making meetings less of a battlefield and more of a debate and learning experience. Effective conflict resolution cannot only help everyone involved but it can also result in new learning and positive change.
Dawson explains in order for a team to be successful they must possess, "a clear mission, the right competencies and skills, and direct and clear support from leadership" (para. 7). Teams are full of individual conscious people that need to feel appreciated and treated with respect. The ability to comprise with a learning team helps to manage conflict that allows every team member to express his or her ideas and opinions that allow the team to move forward. When dealing with two different parties in a le ...