Team Conflict

Team Management                                                          

The causes for conflict among team members range from competition, manipulative individuals, bruised egos, jealousy, and blame games, unfair handling by superiors, to simply miscommunication and misunderstandings. When conflict runs high, often people react in emotional ways that can offend others and things are said that should not have been. 

Incompetent leaders have teams who turn on each other. The lack of focus invites conflict. Focus generates energy, unleashes creativity and fires urgency.

Effective and transformational leaders can even cherish the challenge of resolving conflict and take credit for a creative, productive workplace. A true leader recognizes, understands and manages conflict. Avoiding it is not an option as it will not go away and instead it will only escalate.

How to deal with it:

Recognize, understand and deal with the conflict. Never be seen as subjective or having favorites. Be seen as fair and consistent. It is time for a tough conversation. Reform or remove or make them insignificant to the team. Give team leaders a voice in forming the team. Be clear about boundaries. Know when to come down firmly and when to hold back. Effective communication and rapport building is the key.

The benefits of managing conflict effectively are higher staff morale, better staff retention, higher productivity, financial gain, healthy work environment, effective team work.

The dangers are infighting among staff, a loss of morale and loyalty to the employer, a destructive work atmosphere, anger and gossip among staff, barriers between individuals and teams, power struggle, non-co-operation. Infighting wastes time, energy and resources.

Aiyan Thiruvalluvar cautions about team conflict

ஒன்றாமை ஒன்றியார் கட்படின் எஞ்ஞான்றும்

பொன்றாமை ஒன்றல் அரிது.(886)

आश्रित लोगों से निजी, यदि होता है वैर ।
सदा असंभव तो रहा, बचना नाश-बगैर ॥ (८८६)

Explanation by Scholars: 

If hatred arises among (one's) own people, it will be hardly possible (for one) to escape death.

ஒன்றி இருந்தவர்களிடையே  உட்பகை தோன்றி விடுமானால்,  அதனால் ஏற்படும் அழிவைத் தடுப்பது என்பது எந்தக்காலத்திலும் அரிதான செயலாகும்.