Confronting Conflict

When you think of the term ‘conflict,’ a negative idea most likely comes to mind. However, in the area of teamwork, conflict can actually be seen as a positive. Conflict in teamwork arises when two or more team members have differing views or opinions. In this post, I will explain how to successfully confront conflict.

When a conflict arises, it is important for the team to have a discussion instead of ignoring the issue. I think this is powerful because group members will clear the air and will not hold any grudges against other team members. This will ensure that all team members will be focused on the assigned task, and not on their feelings or any other related distractions.

During the discussion, team members must remain open-minded and everyone must actively participate. When team members discuss the cause of the conflict, it creates new ways for them to look at the issue. I find this to be very helpful because the group members’ knowledge will expand, causing their future ideas to be more creative. This can lead to great heights for their current and future tasks. 

A quote by Jay Hall in my textbook reads, “conflict is a natural part of the human condition, but the manner in which you respond to and manage its dynamics will help determine the success of your enterprise” (McKinlay & Ross, 2008, p.165).

It is important that the conflicting group members are able to effectively explain themselves. This will help them justify their views and help the other group members understand where they are coming from and why they feel that way. I also believe that knowledge helps group members understand each other’s views and opinions. A lot of people have not been informed about new ideas other than the ones they learned about growing up or in school. People need to understand that everyone has experienced a different life, which causes them to have different views and opinions.

Below is a short video explaining how students feel about conflict: 

The idea of confronting conflict peacefully sounds great, but I am sure it does not sound easy. I bet it also sounds like something that you would rather avoid, if possible. All you need to do is practice and I believe you will be surprised with the results.

Have you ever experienced conflict during group work, and were you able to successfully confront the issue?

Reference:

McKinlay, L. & Ross, H. (2008). You and Others. Toronto, ON: Pearson Education Canada.