Conflict can arise when the interests, needs, and goals of one side are not compatible with the other. Conflict is caused by differences in opinions, priorities, and/or goals between two individuals or teams. Good management skills can help you avoid unpleasant and unwelcome storms of personality and ego clashes at work.
Consider this example: Suppose you were given a critical project and that you recently announced the team. The next day, a key member of your team walks up to your desk. Your door is always open for you. You could sense his thoughts and you could simply ask him about them. He replied, “I found out that John was assigned to the project team. I can’t work alongside him.” He is rude, arrogant, and lacks team spirit. He makes fun of me and others. I am able to do my own work and don’t need him to review it. I was excited to be part of this important project, but not if my boss is.
What would you do if you were a project manager A good manager must always consider the best interests of the organization he/she is working for. The best answer is “You are my best employee, and I want to have you work on this project. It’s a great opportunity.” John is the only one who can do this particular job. John is the only one who has a solid understanding of how to apply it to our legacy code. Unfortunately, these old programs weren’t well documented and have grown over time into enormous programs. We could blow the time and budget estimates for this project if he didn’t know about the existing system. Here’s what I propose, since we need both of you to work on this project. At the kick-off meeting, I will clearly outline the roles of all key team members. I will also make it clear that no negative interactions between team members will be allowed. If you have any issues with him that you would like me to resolve, we can all sit down and talk.”
The situation must be handled tactically in the company’s best interests. Management skills and diplomacy are required to manage conflict among your team members.
Here are some tips
Individual sessions with both: It is better to have individual sessions with both key employees of your company. Talk to them about their feelings about the company, their job, and the new project. Analyze the information provided by other team members to make a decision about their attitude,/or work style, and whether it is compatible with your existing team.
To ensure that accountability and responsibilities are clearly defined, create a chart with clear roles and responsibilities.
You can do team building exercises outside of your office. Sometimes, a change of location can make all the difference.
If possible, try to determine the root cause of any differences in the past and make sure you don’t repeat them in your current project.
You should be careful when you have both the north and south poles together. Make sure your team is one and not two. This could have serious consequences for your project.
Conflict management is covered under the Manage Project Team process in the Knowledge area Project Human Resource Management. According to the PMBOK(r), if you can successfully resolve conflict, it will lead to increased productivity, better results, more positive working relationships, and greater productivity.
