By: Adrien Maines and Michael Hirsch
In life, conflict is inevitable. And in any professional setting, sooner or later, a disagreement (or many) will develop. One study found that 85 percent of employees endure some type of conflict at their jobs, and a full 29 percent claim they experience “constant” conflict amongst coworkers. While those figures may indeed seem high, these numbers might not reveal that conflict can actually be positive for a team, if managed in the right way.
It’s crucially important to have the right team in place to reduce an atmosphere of conflict. Find A Rainmaker (FAR) offers a rapid behavioral survey that helps companies know where people’s strengths are and how they can build the right team to pursue a common goal or execute a project.
Let’s examine some of the specific ways that intraoffice behavioral conflicts can jeopardize both a team as well as the company’s success—while proposing some solutions based on behavioral data.
Increasing Productivity and Raising Morale
Workplaces with a high amount of arguments and conflict can be toxic. According to the NIH, long-term exposure to high-stress environments changes the way our brains function. The consequences include not only mood changes and increased anxiety, but also an effect on the brain’s higher-level executive functions. To put it another way, the hotter the temperature at work, the more often employees will be making mistakes. Leaders taking a proactive, empathetic approach to employee morale has never been more important as we continue to learn more about how mental well-being makes for happy team members willing to contribute to the greater mission.
Understandably, employees get frustrated when they feel their talents are being squandered—which can be further complicated when they aren’t in the right role. It doesn’t make sense to put an introverted thinker (Amazing Analyst) as a customer-facing seller (Constant Closer). A good team needs a leader (Creative Collaborator) whose industry knowledge, ability with people, and leadership ensure that the common mission and the individual team members’ wishes are balanced. In situations such as these, the right leader ensures that people are in the right positions to ensure that the entire team succeeds. This will also reduce the incidences of conflict. Team leaders also set the tone for their teams and create an atmosphere where everyone is made to feel safe to voice their thoughts and opinions; team members will then bring their best ideas to the table.
Finding a Winning Strategy That the Public Notices
If you can’t get through one meeting without an argument, long-term strategic initiatives are all but unattainable. And when conflict is endemic in an organization, not only does it reduce productivity, it might actually confuse the idea of what success even means to the organization—potentially leading to poor decisions in terms of branding that have hurt some of the biggest names in business.
While FAR provides a useful roadmap for team formation and placing people in the correct roles, the only way to truly know how a team will function is to get them together. Differences of opinion among team members are guaranteed, but managers effectively handling disputes help the team improve and grow. They encourage team members to voice their concerns early and fully. Engaging in mediation and collaborative problem-solving will increase the chances of successful execution of any initiative.
The goal is twofold: Building the right team and then, as with any relationship, constantly nurturing and helping it grow. This drives success, fuels growth, and bolsters retention.
Workplace Disagreement Can Be Beneficial
There’s also a silver lining when it comes to team disagreements: Conflict can actually be positive, with Forbes reporting that internal disputes, when dealt with in a healthy manner, actually encourage a sense of empathy among team members and drive engagement around a common goal. We tend to argue about things that we value highly, and if people on your team are arguing over the best possible solution to your business problem, that shows they are actively engaged in and invested in finding the best outcome.
It’s also important to understand and appreciate that not all conflicts are personal, especially when it comes to workplace-based disagreements. Some people are naturally introverted, while others are more likely to voice their ideas. By creating a space where everyone’s ideas are welcome—which doesn’t necessarily mean all ideas will be tried—a true team atmosphere will thrive. While not all disagreements on a team can be avoided, properly allocating human resources to the necessary tasks ensures a commonality of purpose and leads to success.
It all starts with FAR, a behavioral survey that provides the information needed to properly build out your teams and reach your goals. FAR enables you not only to achieve those business benchmarks but also to create harmonious teams focused on the common goal.
Schedule a demonstration and learn more about our platform and our network of coaches who can help nurture your most important asset, your people. demo@findarainmaker.com