IMPROVING COMMUNICATION SKILLS
CONTENT
INTRODUCTION …………………………….……………………………………………..3 I. AN OVERVIEW OF TEAMWORK CONFLICT …………………………………....3 II. DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO CONFLICT IN TEAMWORK………………......4 1. Five main conflict reaction modes suggested by Thomas Kilmann ………………4 2. How do we usually deal with teamwork conflict………………………………… 6 3. Avoiding negative styles of conflict……………………………………………... 6 III. GUIDELINES FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN TEAMWORK
CONFLICT…………………………………………………………………....7
1. The four-step process……………………………………………………………… 7 2. Skills required for effective communication in conflicts………………………….. 9
CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………………………… 12
INTRODUCTION
It is commonplace for organizations today to work in teams in the hope is that productivity, creativity, and results will be greater in a team environment. While this is a proven approach, any time you bring together people from differing backgrounds and experiences, it is inevitable that conflict will occur.
Many people and organizations view conflict as a negative, or something to be avoided. Yet conflict, differences, or disagreements are a natural result of people working together. The challenge then becomes, how should the team be prepared for and manage through it?
I. AN OVERVIEW OF TEAMWORK CONFLICT
"Conflict arises from the clash of perceptions, goals, or values in an arena where people care about the outcome" (Alessandra, 1993, p. 92). If the management of that conflict is not effective, it can totally disrupt the entire group process. However the old saying "that which does not kill us will make us stronger" illustrates how successfully managed conflict can benefit the group.
That explains why conflicts is either functional or dysfunctional. Functional conflict is at a level that enables a group to maximize it's performance, and the outcomes are desirable. However; when that conflict escalates