NEGOTIATIONS SKILLS FOR MANAGERS

Negotiations Skills for Managers

Negotiations Skills for Managers

What are the five major strategies for conflict management?

1. Ground Rules to Help Avoid Team Conflict

Establish what will and will not be tolerated within the group. Set guidelines and time frames for each team member's task for the project. Keep open lines of communication, and make sure all opinions are heard and discussed with all team members. Outline the project at hand and agree on a schedule that will get the project completed successfully. Discuss and implement consequences for lack of participation and warnings that need to be given to any members not up to speed and not completing their portion of the project. Establishing the Team Rules in advance makes all members aware of what to do if and when any issues arise. In a learning environment these rules can be outlined in by using a Team Charter.

2. Preventing/Dissolving Team Conflicts Before They Arise

“Conflict isn't necessarily a bad thing, though. Healthy and constructive conflict is a component of high functioning teams. Conflict arises from differences between people; the same differences that often make diverse teams more effective than those made up of people with similar experience. When people with varying viewpoints, experiences, skills, and opinions are tasked with a project or challenge, the combined effort can far surpass what any group of similar individual could achieve. Team members must be open to these differences and not let them rise into full-blown disputes.” (Dr. Meredith Belbin, Resolving Team Conflict, MindTools, 2008)

3. Constructive Criticism vs. Destructive Criticism in Team Environment

In a team environment you often have to use the appropriate approach to get the results desired. In order to keep the flow of your teams progress moving forward there is a way in which you say things that could either uplift a team member or put them down. “Understanding and appreciating the various viewpoints involved in conflict are key factors in its resolution. These are key skills for all team members to develop. The important thing is to maintain a healthy balance of constructive difference of opinion, and avoid negative conflict that's destructive and disruptive.” (Dr. Meredith Belbin, Resolving Team Conflict, MindTools, 2008)

“Cooperative conflict can contribute to effective problem solving and decision making by motivating people to examine a problem. Encouraging the expression of many ideas; energizing people to seek a superior solution; and fostering integration of several ideas to create high-quality solutions… The key is to understand how to handle it constructively. If members understand how to do it, differences that arise can result in benefits for a team.” (Carole A. Townsley, Resolving Conflict in Work Teams, 2008)

4. Creative Process

The idea is that tension among team members can help the creative process. “In fact, lack of creative tension sometimes reflects an “I don't care” attitude that can lead to stagnation on the job.” (DeJanasz-Dowd-Schneider, 2001) So when conflict arises don't let it become out of control and/or destructively criticize your team members, encourage ...