Team Disputes Mostly Stem from Four Key Factors
Controlling Chaos: A Guide to Managing and Preventing Destructive Conflicts in the Modern Workplace
Menagerial battles can wreak havoc on your team and even tarnish your professional image. As a boss, managing disputes is one of the scariest jobs and it seems remote and hybrid work only exacerbates the issue.
While conflict itself isn't inherently harmful, it can lead to complacency or a team that follows only one person's opinion rather than engaging in constructive debate. Discussions that delve into the specifics often help us comprehend various viewpoints, understand what team members truly care about, and appreciate the importance of communication in teamwork.
Effective conflict management requires learning skills that are surprisingly uncommon. If not handled properly, it can decimate team morale and endanger your standing as a leader. Be aware of the locations where conflicts may brew and prepare to intervene swiftly before they run rampant.
study has found that four major factors instigate conflicts:
- Miscommunications
- Unclear performance expectations
- Time constraints
- Loose definition of objectives
Let's dig deeper into these aspects and discover what you as a manager can do to quell these triggers. Combined, these factors account for approximately 90% of all team conflicts, so resolving them would significantly minimize discord within your team.
Establish Open Channels of Communication
With the arrival of remote work, communication has become dependent on cryptic messages, inevitably influenced by social media shorthand. This can result in misinterpretations and confusion.
In digital interactions, especially on official platforms, multiple interpretations can occur, particularly when there's no real-time interaction. Clarity is heavily reliant on non-verbal cues that are absent in digital conversations. Misuse of communication tools can also contribute to misunderstandings.
To prevent this, consider the following suggestions:
- Reflect before hitting send – is the timing appropriate to convey your message? Consider the mood and address any possible questions within the message itself.
- Eliminate face-to-face meetings when circumstances prohibit them, but opt for a verbal discussion if the situation is riddled with misinformation and gossip.
Clear Performance Expectations
Many rookie managers micromanage their teams by scrutinizing every task to evaluate performance. On the flip side, they may be too vague regarding performance metrics, quantifying results with statements like 'good' or 'acceptable'. To avoid these pitfalls, dedicate time to choosing the essential parameters to track, and communicate them.
Examine which company goals or outcomes the team is expected to deliver. Utilize appropriate digital tools for team members to track their work, planning their tasks, organizing workflows, and monitoring progress.
Set specific, unambiguous metrics to measure performance. Consult your team about their expectations, agree on goals, and work together to meet them.
Time Management
Time clashes can occur when team members work at different hours within the same time zone. This may stem from poor time estimation or a lack of understanding of other team members' workloads.
Encourage members to track their time and how they allocate it at work. This grants team members a realistic view of the time needed, rather than making an educated guess.
At each member's discretion, offer advice to optimize their time on various tasks by analyzing their data and discussing time management strategies. These evidence-based estimates will aid you in setting project timelines and help you plan suitable time allocations for future projects.
Mutually Agreed Goals
Goals must be clear, transparent, and mutually agreed upon. A simple guide outlining expectations, roles, assigned tasks, and reasons behind task allocation can be created.
However, remember to keep it straightforward. Engage in conversations with your team about their expectations from you as a leader and what they expect to achieve.
Conflict, in itself, is not harmful. It paves the way for clarity, promotes new ideas, and addresses doubts. Issues arise when it is not managed adeptly. Hence, hone your conflict-management skills and the tips mentioned above will be invaluable in your endeavor to do so effectively.
Sources
- Managing and Overcoming Workplace Conflict: Effects, Causes, and Resolutions
- Understanding and Managing Workplace Conflict
- Dealing with Difficult People: Tips for Employees
- Teamwork and Team Development
- Managing Teams in the Remote Workplace: Challenges and Strategies
- Engage in remote work opportunities for education and self-development, focusing on goal-setting and personal-growth sessions that emphasize effective conflict management skills, as these skills are essential for resolving conflicts amidst unclear performance expectations, miscommunications, loose definitions of objectives, and time constraints.
- In the context of remote work, prioritize and strive for mutual agreement on goals and expectations for each team member, as they play a significant role in clear performance expectations and help in preventing the triggers of team conflicts, paving the way for successful teamwork and a harmonious collaborative environment.
