What are effective ways to promote team cohesion during a conflict?

2 Clarify the goals and expectations

The next step to promote team cohesion during a conflict is to clarify the goals and expectations of the team and the individual team members. Sometimes, conflict arises from unclear or misaligned objectives, roles, or responsibilities. By clarifying the goals and expectations, you can help the team members align their actions, priorities, and interests, and reduce the potential for misunderstanding or confusion. You can clarify the goals and expectations by reviewing the team's mission, vision, and values, defining the team's deliverables and deadlines, and assigning the team's tasks and accountabilities.

3 Emphasize the common ground

The third step to promote team cohesion during a conflict is to emphasize the common ground that the team members share. Despite their differences, team members have more in common than they think, such as their commitment to the team's success, their desire to do a good job, and their appreciation for each other's strengths. By emphasizing the common ground, you can help the team members focus on what unites them, rather than what divides them, and build rapport and trust. You can emphasize the common ground by highlighting the team's achievements, celebrating the team's diversity, and acknowledging the team's contributions.

4 Encourage open communication

The fourth step to promote team cohesion during a conflict is to encourage open communication among team members. Open communication means expressing one's thoughts, feelings, and needs in a respectful and honest way, and listening to others with empathy and curiosity. Open communication can help the team members understand each other's perspectives, resolve their differences, and find solutions that work for everyone. You can encourage open communication by creating a safe and supportive environment, asking open-ended questions, and providing constructive feedback.

5 Facilitate collaboration

The fifth step to promote team cohesion during a conflict is to facilitate collaboration among team members. Collaboration means working together toward a common goal, sharing ideas and resources, and leveraging each other's skills and expertise. Collaboration can help the team members overcome their challenges, achieve their objectives, and improve their performance. You can facilitate collaboration by setting clear and realistic expectations, providing the necessary tools and support, and rewarding the team's efforts.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?