Team Conflict ManagementTeam Conflict Management

ADVANTAGE SESSION #81ADVANTAGE SESSION #81

for Kelley School of Businessfor Kelley School of Business

X420 ClassX420 Class

presented by Richard D. Attiyehpresented by Richard D. Attiyeh

Team Conflict ManagementTeam Conflict ManagementTeamwork is essential, but any group effort can degenerate into argument and anger….

As a member of the As a member of the team, or as a team team, or as a team leader, the goal is to leader, the goal is to avoid or eliminate avoid or eliminate conflict.conflict.

To do this effectively, To do this effectively, one needs to one needs to understand the root understand the root causes of team causes of team conflict.conflict.

Research shows that the most significant Research shows that the most significant roadblock to effective teamwork is….roadblock to effective teamwork is….

There are other times when rigid behavior is unreasonable….

Sometime it just makes sense to inflexibly follow the rules…

Research indicates that the major factor in Research indicates that the major factor in unreasonable unreasonable rigidityrigidity is… is…

Among working teams, Among working teams, self esteemself esteem is a major fear is a major fear factorfactor

Fear, and rigidity in belief or opinions, can lead to anger and conflict.

Some personalities Some personalities may try to bully other may try to bully other team members to get team members to get their way.their way.

Other personality types may internalize their anger until they explode.

Fear frequently manifests as angry behavior

Some team Some team members simply members simply turn their backs on turn their backs on the team effort the team effort altogether…..altogether…..

Basically, people tend to Basically, people tend to fall back on rigid fall back on rigid approaches to problem-approaches to problem-solving when other solving when other avenues do not seem to avenues do not seem to be available.be available.

The ways in which team conflict The ways in which team conflict occurs are as varied as the occurs are as varied as the individuals who make up the teams. individuals who make up the teams. As long as rigidity of thought and As long as rigidity of thought and attitude rules the day, there can be attitude rules the day, there can be no effective solution.no effective solution.

So, what do you do?….

The solution to creating compatible teams is simple, The solution to creating compatible teams is simple, but it sure is not EASYbut it sure is not EASY..

You must create and support a team environment of

OPENNESS, TRUTH, HONESTY and SELF-AWARENESS.

”SERENITY”

OPENNESSOPENNESS AttitudeAttitude PosturePosture EnvironmentEnvironment

TRUTH and HONESTYTRUTH and HONESTY WordsWords DeedsDeeds

SELF-AWARENESSSELF-AWARENESS MentalMental PhysicalPhysical

BEWARE!BEWARE!As the “official” team leader, or a manager, there are many As the “official” team leader, or a manager, there are many

ways of committing “teamicide”. A short list of the most ways of committing “teamicide”. A short list of the most common teamicide techniques include:common teamicide techniques include:

Defensive managementBureaucracyPhysical separationFragmentation of people’s timeQuality reduction of the productPhony deadlines

Defensive managementDefensive management ““People who feel untrusted People who feel untrusted

have little inclination to have little inclination to bond together into a bond together into a cooperative team.”cooperative team.”

NOTE: All quotes taken from Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams, by Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister

The only red tape your team needs is the finish tape….

BureaucracyBureaucracy “ “Mindless paper pushing is a waste.” It cripples Mindless paper pushing is a waste.” It cripples

productivity and team spirit.productivity and team spirit.

Physical separationPhysical separation When what could be a tightly coherent team is When what could be a tightly coherent team is

scattered over floors or in different buildings, scattered over floors or in different buildings, casual interactions are sacrificed. Casual casual interactions are sacrificed. Casual interaction is essential to team formation.interaction is essential to team formation.

Fragmentation of people’s timeFragmentation of people’s time ““Fragmentation is bad for team formation” Fragmentation is bad for team formation”

and bad for efficiency.and bad for efficiency.

Quality reduction of the team’s productQuality reduction of the team’s productAlmost always referred to as a “cost-reduced” product, Almost always referred to as a “cost-reduced” product,

but even when the result is deemed acceptable (less but even when the result is deemed acceptable (less quality for cheaper and earlier delivery), it can kill a quality for cheaper and earlier delivery), it can kill a team.team.

Phony deadlinesPhony deadlines Tight deadlines can be challenging. Phony ones Tight deadlines can be challenging. Phony ones

are just deadly.are just deadly.

A flexible approach to internal team dynamics orA flexible approach to internal team dynamics orthe hurdles a team faces is essential.the hurdles a team faces is essential.

I found out that if you are going to win games, you had better be ready to adapt.~ Scotty Bowman (Hall of Fame hockey coach)

Trust builds a team….Trust builds a team….

Trust is the lubrication that makes it possible for organizations to work.~ Warren Bennis

Honesty is essential in Honesty is essential in building trust and dealing with team conflictsbuilding trust and dealing with team conflicts

Dare to be honest and fear no labor.~ Robert Burns

Teams made up of dynamic, creative individuals Teams made up of dynamic, creative individuals will almost always will almost always

suffer from periods of conflict.suffer from periods of conflict.

You canYou canhelp overcome team conflict by ….help overcome team conflict by ….

…BUILDING A WINNING TEAM

Team Conflict ManagementTeam Conflict ManagementEVALUATION QUESTIONSEVALUATION QUESTIONS

USE: USE:

– a. Strongly agreea. Strongly agree

– b. Agreeb. Agree

– c. Disagreec. Disagree

– d. Strongly d. Strongly disagreedisagree

– e. Don’t knowe. Don’t know

1. I found the presentation material easy to understand.

2. This Advantage session increasedMy knowledge of the subject presented.

3. I will be able to use some of the Information from this session in the future.

4. The presenter was well prepared for this Advantage session.

5. This presentation should be repeated in future semesters.