Resolving Team Conflict
By Michelle LaBrosse
July 25, 2008
If the conflict continues and youve tried all of the above, there is one more trick I keep up my sleeve. Ask the opposing members to argue each others case. A walk in each others shoes forces them to see the bigger picture and will encourage empathy and a strong urge to solve the issues together. It might even generate new ideas since the issues are being approached with different perspectives.
Laugh
Humor has been one of the worlds best tension breakers since early civilization. If team conflict has gotten out of hand, consider an icebreaker before tackling the issue at hand. One quick team-building exercise that can bring some laughs into the room is the nickname roundtable. Everyone goes around the room or takes a turn on a conference call and discloses their funniest nickname.
Now you have a few tips to try on your team and see what garners the best results. Youll be surprised how minor changes can have a big impact. Who knows you may find yourself singing: Whats So Funny Bout Peace, Love and Understanding?
Michelle LaBrosse, PMP, is the founder of Cheetah Learning, and author of Cheetah Negotiations and Cheetah Project Management. The Project Management Institute, www.pmi.org, recently selected Michelle as one of the 25 Most Influential Women in Project Management in the World, and only one of two women selected from the training and education industry. Her articles have appeared in over 100 publications around the world.