Be prepared for conflict

Almost every time a decision needs to be made amongst a group of people, some conflict can be expected. By definition alone the term conflict is a scary thought and in a business meeting we fear “that if it is not contained, it could lead to bruised egos, perceived loss of authority and perhaps strained relationships” (Bradley, 2012).

However conflict may “contain the seeds of contrarian ideas that might help the business” (Bradley, 2012). So it is important to turn it into a positive experience and a productive exercise by managing it effectively.

The two most common reasons conflict arise are when people feel misunderstood or unheard.

To handle conflict productively follow these steps:

1. Allow each person to express their complete case while the group gives their full attention
2. Each person questions the other
3. The leader summarizes what each person said
4. The group offers comments

At this point “the group may modify a recommendation or suggest alternatives before reaching consensus on a direction to follow” (Guffey, Rhodes, & Rogin, 2011, p. 55).

The key is to attend to the conflict immediately and to remain calm as you try to identify the cause and work towards a resolution.

References:

Bradley, I. (2012, February 09). Meetings and managed conflict. [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://www.ianfbradley.com/blog/?p=51

Guffey, M. E., Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2011). Business communication: process and product (6th Canadian ed.). Toronto, ON: Nelson Education Ltd.