Managing a team, be ready that conflicts will arise. Avoiding a conflict is not the best tactic – it leads to dysfunctional work.
How can you create a safe environment where conflicts get resolved?
- Don’t rely on consensus or voting. In teams, different people have different levels of expertise. It makes sense to rely on those whose level of expertise is higher.
- Do make decisions depersonalized. There should be a set of standards used to evaluate decisions.
- Don’t turn a blind eye to simmering issues. Address the problems before it’s too late.
- Don’t take it out on other teams. Conflict-avoidant managers tend to seek conflicts with other teams and react aggressively to threats coming from outsiders.
