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TeamConflict
Team conflict is one
outcome of team organization that is practically inevitable. When we
consult with team-based organizations, one of the most frequent
requests we receive is for help in dealing with team conflict. People
see conflict as a barrier to productivity. We take the point of view,
however, that team conflict is a potential promoter of productivity.
The effects of team conflict are dependent on the way team members
handle it. If team members can get a firm grasp of what behaviors turn
conflict into a plus, they will be well on their way to using their
diversity to their advantage.
TeamConflict is designed to give team members insights into how their
behaviors determine the outcome of conflict and how they can change
those behaviors to be more productive.
Development
Over the past few years, we have developed a series of tools designed
to allow teams to fully discuss small slices of their life together.
These tools have included topics such as communication, team roles,
and accountability. Conflict within teams is another slice -- and it
is a big one. We felt the need to produce a tool for discussing team
conflict because it is an issue that continually surfaces in
discussions with team members.
Our starting point was to question how team conflict differed from
other types of conflict. We conducted a literature search on team
conflict and found substantial differences. We then developed an
instrument that reflected the most important aspects of handling team
conflict. We ran several groups through several versions of the tool
as it was refined. In addition, we asked customers who had teams in
conflict to review TeamConflict for us. Their comments, in conjunction
with the experiences of our groups, allowed us to produce the final
version of TeamConflict.
Administering TeamConflict
Included in the instrument booklet is all the information needed for
scoring, interpreting results, and preparing plans for change. It is
possible, therefore, for a group of respondents to use these learning
instruments without a professional facilitator. We do, however,
strongly believe that a trained facilitator greatly enhances the
learning experience for participants. Moreover, when exchange of
feedback on a sensitive issue is part of the exercise, as it is in
TeamConflict, a trained facilitator ensures that the process will be
productive.
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