Managing Conflict

Managing Conflict By: Nakia Jones, Jarvis Rooks, and Antonio Miles

What is conflict? A disagreement through which the parties involved perceive a threat to their needs, interest, or concerns A struggle or contest between people with opposing needs, believes, value, or goals

consist of disputes and disagreements that hinder a company's performance • generally involves people who are unwilling to work together to solve a problem • is often personal. Dysfunctional Conflict

Role conflict • Value conflict • Generational conflict • Personality conflict • Poor Communication 5 kinds conflict types in the workplace

Role conflict is essentially a difference between opposing expectations of a role. If two people have different expectations for what the other's proper role should be, then role conflict is likely to result. Role Conflict

Employees with different values and interest often have a hard time relating and getting along because they have little in common. Conflict occurs when employees are unable or unwilling to accept each other’s differences and work through it. Value Conflict

In the workforce there are many generations that have to work together. Each generation has different skills and difficulties but they are forced to work together. They tend to have different values and work ethics that tend to clash with each other. Generational Conflict

All work environments are made up of different people with different personalities. Each employee has a different perspective and way of operating. Sometimes these things clash. Coworkers need to accept each other’s ways of doing this, if not conflict will occur Personality Conflict

This can be from a difference in communication styles or a failure to communicate at all. Failing to communicate properly in the workplace can lead to employees making incorrect assumptions and not only causes conflict but reduces efficiency and employee morale. Poor Communication

John plays on the high school basketball team and his coach calls him out about his selfish play on the court. John response is “I’m the star on the team”. The coach benched John because of the comment made. What kind of conflict is this? • Role Conflict • Value Conflict • Personality Conflict • Generational Conflict Question

Emotional - are feelings we experience in conflict • Cognitive – our ideas and thoughts about a conflict • Physical – can play an important role in our ability to meet our needs in the conflict Three kinds of responses to conflicts

Five styles that can be used to manage dysfunctional conflict

Integrating focuses on the different parties of the conflict to work together to come up with a solution. • Both parties have to be completely dedicated and willing to work together so that they all can get what they want. • Win/ Win Situation Integrating

best used when a quick decision is needed or when the issue is relatively unimportant. • Dominating is telling the employees what to do and taking control of the situation. • Being able to take control over issues are is important because it stops small issues from growing into bigger ones that can harm the workplace and its productivity. • Although, this is a useful way to solve certain conflicts it should not be used to often. Dominating

A settlement of differences between people • To compromise is to make a deal between different parties where each party gives up part of their demand in order to better work together Compromising

When you ignore the conflicts • This is the best option when the conflict is small and does not necessarily need to be addressed • Used wrong this can lead to bigger problems and more conflict • Those who avoid conflict often have low esteem Avoiding

smoothing; this involves playing down differences while emphasizing commonalities. • Value • Used to elevate individuals • Power is given up. • “I don’t care what ever you want” or “you’re the expert, what do you think. Obliging

Other Ways to resolve conflict Mediation and Arbitration

is a non-binding form of conflict resolution that works well for minor disputes • The mediator engages in shuttle diplomacy to find a solution that is acceptable to both sides. • It has one major disadvantage. If the mediator fails to find a common ground, the dispute moves back to the litigation track. As a result, it works well for minor disputes. It doesn't work as well with intractable disputes or unreasonable parties. Mediation

Arbitration is a binding form of dispute resolution. • It permits parties to submit their dispute to an independent third party who functions much like a judge. The arbitrator listens to the facts and then renders a judgment. • It has one drawback, the arbitration is conducted much like a trial, and should not be used to often. Arbitration

Functional Conflict

constructive conflict; serves the organizations interest, goals, and improves overall performance • spark creativity and increase performance in a group. • Devils Advocacy • Dialectic method Functional Conflict

Any Questions?

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Managing Conflict