Analytical Paper
When seeking to improve leadership skills it is important to become immersed in concepts that foster an environment conducive to high performance teams. Two of these concepts have been discussed in length: Conflict Resolution and Team Building. This essay will discuss the importance of these ideas as they relate to leadership and what aspiring leaders can learn. Second, which of the topic readings create the “best” model for effective leadership within an organization? Lastly, what impact can be expected on the organization if these ideas are not implemented? All of these are relevant questions that those who aspire to be great leaders must answer.
There a several areas of concern when discussing the traits of leadership. One of these areas relates directly to conflict. Every organization will experience conflict. It is up to leaders to resolve conflict that may affect organizations negatively. In doing so there are several approaches to consider in order to insure practical resolution; accommodation, avoidance collaboration, competition, and compromise. Of these options collaboration is cited as having the most benefit to the organization. A leader pursuing resolution through collaboration displays traits that can be identified as qualities associated with effective leadership per the BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory (BarOn EQ~i), confronting problem employees and building and mending relationships (Wilcox & Rush, 2004, p. 8). Obviously problem employees can create conflict as seen in Dealing with Conflict by Masters and Albright. Dealing with this problem in a collaborative manner communicates the importance of the relationship between leadership and the individual with whom the conflict arose. In addition...
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...ve to good organizational citizenship (Bolino & Turnley, August 2003, p. 4) Teams who fear conflict will waste time posturing for individual self interest and create greater conflict through “back-channel” attacks and politics (Lencioni, p. 615).
In conclusion, aspiring leaders will find that conflict resolution and effective team building are important factors in building a successful organization. There are important lessons to be learned in the readings Dealing with Conflict and The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. The best model for organizational leadership would have to go to the later by default for lack of a clear outline in the former, but that does not take away from its importance. If any lesson is to be learned it is that very relevant questions can be answered from these examples and to ignore them would be detrimental to an organization and its leader.
The leadership fable, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, examines the leadership qualities and professional dialogue that makes teams effective. Throughout the novel, Lencioni provides an effectual illustration to lead a professional team to utilize open dialogue, including conflict, to reach their goals. Leadership is a multi-faceted topic, which requires much collaboration, research, and a never-ending search to find and refine oneself; hence, it is vital to surround and immerse oneself in literature from profound leaders and to mold your leadership style as a model for personal change to effectively engage in future relationships with others. When one practices leadership
...) Managing conflict in teams and examining hiring assumptions. Source: Camping Magazine, Sep/Oct96, Vol. 69 Issue 1, p17, 2p, 1bw. Available: www.wls.lib.ny.us/databases/ebsco.com 06/10/99
One of the essential tasks of the management is identifying and solving workplace conflicts which Bent failed to accomplish. Several sources of conflicts are organizational changes (e.g. layoffs and change in ratio), different values (employee priorities versus corporate profits), threats to one’s status (employees; beliefs that they deserve the bonus), contrasting perceptions (beliefs on how the Scanlon Plan should work and how the management should handle downturns), lack of trust (employees’ distrust in management), and workplace incivility (Newstrom, 2014, p. 290), all of which are present in Engstrom. Workplace incivility pertains to the lack of respect in the organization (Newstrom, 2014, p. 290). Consequently, unresolved conflicts have diverse individual and organizational impacts. Fusch and Fusch (2015) studied leaders' conflict resolution strategies in the production line and learned that poor conflict management contributed to lower productivity and performance. A manager who cannot resolve intrapersonal clashes and identify work conflicts can indirectly contribute to displace organizational performance and morale
It is proven that teams who work well together perform and have a higher rate of success compared to teams who do not work well together or communicate with each other. A recent article with regards to leadership discussed the topic of group cohesion and how this is a factor for success. The article discussed several situations, one about a business company, one about a sports team and one about a military operation. The article closely analyzed the leaders of the three situations and discussed the similarities and differences between the three. The main similarity between was there focus on cohesion. The article contained facts about how the business was operating and how that in recent years, production and sales as increased drastically, and one factor for this increase was the CEO implemented a mandatory team building exercise each
Conflict exists in every organization and it is evitable, but what anyone would like to have come out of it is a healthy exchange of ideas and creativity. For this assignment, I’ve reviewed “Conflict Competence in the Workplace” written by Craig E. Runde, 2014, Employement Relations Today, pages 25-31, he discusses a plethora of critical key points that well explain conflict, the importance of developing competent authoritative figures, the positive and negative benefits of effective managing, and the different skills needed to become competent and getting the best aspects out of conflict, instead of getting all negative effects.
A group can only be called a team if the members are actively working together toward a common goal. A team must have the capability to set goals, make decisions, solve problems, and share responsibilities. For a team to be successful, trust must be earned between its members by being consistent and reliable (Temme & Katzel, 2005). When more than one person is working on a particular task, inconsistent views or opinions commonly arise. People come from different backgrounds and live through different life experiences therefore, even when working towards a common goal, they will not always see eye to eye. Major conflict that is not dealt with can devastate a team or organization (Make Conflict Work, 2008). In some situations, conflict can be more constructive than destructive. Recognizing the difference between conflict that is constructive to the team and conflict that is destructive to the team is important. Trying to prevent the conflict is not always the best way to manage conflict when working within a team setting. Understanding conflict, what causes it, and how to resolve conflict effectively, should consume full concentration.
Thomas, K. W. (1992). Conflict and conflict management: Reflections and update. . Journal Of Organizational Behavior, 13(3), 265-274.
Many people enjoy working or participating in a group or team, but when a group of people work together chances are that conflicts will occur. Hazleton describes conflict as the discrepancy between what is the perceived reality and what is seen as ideal (2007). “We enter into conflicts reluctantly, cautiously, angrily, nervously, confidently- and emerge from them battered, exhausted, sad, satisfied, triumphant. And still many of us underestimate or overlook the merits of conflict- the opportunity conflict offers every time it occurs” (Schilling, nd.). Conflict does not have to lead to a hostile environment or to broken relationships. Conflict if resolved effectively can lead to a positive experience for everyone involved. First, there must be an understanding of the reasons why conflicts occur. The conflict must be approached with an open mind. Using specific strategies can lead to a successful resolution for all parties involved. The Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument states “there are five general approaches to dealing with conflict. The five approaches are avoidance, accommodation, competition, compromise, and collaboration. Conflict resolution is situational and no one approach provides the best or right approach for all circumstances” (Thomas, 2000).
According to the Theorists as groups turn into teams, most conflict happens in the “storming” stage of team development (De Janasz, Dowd & Schneider, 2001). First, one must understand what conflict is. Capozzoli (1999) cites Boulding’s 1962 definition of conflict as “a situation of competition in which the parties are aware of the incompatibility of potential future positions and in which each party wishes to occupy a position which is incompatible with the wishes of the other.” Conflict can be either constructive or destructive to the team and can be created in several ways. Conflict must be analyzed and understood for the team to resolve it.
People work in groups or teams everyday whether in their career, education, political organization, church, or any other social setting. Conflict while working in teams or groups is inevitable. When taking people of different backgrounds, personalities, moral, and ethical beliefs and putting them together in a group, conflict will arise. The key to achieving your team goals is to construct and conquer your goals with keeping the greater good of the team in mind. Conflict as it arises should be combated and abated through swift and thorough resolution techniques. When dealt with properly conflict resolution can give rise to a cohesive and productive team.
Differences within the team are the major reason for conflict. This stems from differences in opinion, attitude, beliefs, as well as cultural back grounds and social factors. The Conflict can be positive which is functional and supports or benefits the organization or a person’s main objectives (Reaching Out, 1997). Conflict is viewed as positive when the conflict results in increased involvement form the group, increased cohesion, and positive innovation and creativity. Conflict tends to be positive as well when it leads to better decisions, and solutions to long-term problems.
...ional behavior. Team B was able to discuss and analyze different conflict strategies used in the workplace. The research educates Team B to how organizations implement various theories and strategies in accordance with their work environments.
Companies that have been successful in organizing hi performing teams have reaped the benefits of having appropriate team cohesiveness. However, contrary for companies that have tried and failed at the everchanging task of keeping the lines of communication open between employees and leaders to reach a final product. It is not wise for a leader to place emphasis on team member relationships alone, but more importantly on problem solving techniques and motivating each individual and the team as a whole. Organizations that have set out to improve the quality of the products and business structu...
Baillien et al. (2011) suggest that with non-participatory opportunities limited the violent group, damage rapport with others, and losses trustworthiness of their role in achieving organization plans. Therefore, having a clear understanding of conflict sources creates a sense of assertiveness. Individuals stand for their needs as they respect those of others. Thus a mutual rapport exists where a team is the major driving force for an organization. A win-to-win policy becomes an easy way to reestablish the conflict and best ways to solve
(Asawo, 2011). Conflict can occur in any setting and as leaders in organizations guide and