Conflict Resolution Strategies to Implement While Working in Teams

Essay by candyxss07University, Bachelor'sA+, July 2008

download word file, 7 pages 5.0

Downloaded 101 times

As defined by Esquivel and Kleiner, "conflict is generally a disagreement regarding interests or ideas" (1997, p. 89). Conflict does not only happen within groups, but it can also happen within an individual. Although, conflict is usually viewed as being a negative force, it also has "important implications in increasing the effectiveness of a team's decision making process (Esquivel & Kleiner, 1997, p. 89). Conflict will only become a problem if it is not dealt with properly. Even though team mates should be able to come to an agreement while solving conflicts, resolutions can be very difficult to agree upon because everyone has their own way of dealing with situations and everyone has their own unique personalities.

Dealing with a conflict can be very challenging while working in a team environment. As stated by Capozzoli (1999), "without conflict, complacency in teams can occur and the development of the team and/or the team member can be seriously impeded" (p.

14). Quite frequently, people involved in conflicts have never learned how to negotiate solutions in an effective manner (Capozzoli, 1999). When people within a group have the appropriate knowledge to deal with conflicts, they can help to resolve confrontations in an effective way. Solving conflicts with the right skills can help "resolve disagreements which ultimately will lead to an overall more productive organization as a whole" (Capozzoli, 1999, p. 14).

Some reasons that conflicts may arise in a group are: values, attitudes, needs, expectations, perception, resources, and personality (Capozzoli, 1999). Most people have different values and different perceptions on how to deal with problems, which is why a conflict may develop when team members are searching for a solution. Individuals also have different attitudes and personalities which may lead to differences in opinions when working towards certain goals, which may cause a...