If you want to get promoted, you need to show that you can lead and motivate your team effectively. But what if your team is in conflict and you don't know how to resolve it? Here are some tips on how to deal with team conflict and use it as an opportunity to demonstrate your leadership skills and boost your chances of promotion.
The first step is to understand what is causing the conflict in your team. Is it a personality clash, a disagreement over goals, a lack of communication, or something else? Try to talk to each team member individually and listen to their perspective and feelings. Don't take sides or judge, but try to empathize and understand the root of the problem.
When saying "don't take sides", it is important to distinguish between being neutral and being for each side. In conflict facilitation, if you want to create a collaborative atmosphere and support participants to be honest, open and appreciative, you need to be "for each side", not neutral. As a facilitator, you see the strengths and needs of each team member, you look behind the statements and translate them to the other side in a very appreciative and benevolent way. Neutrality can be perceived as disengagement. In contrast, being "for each side" is a proactive approach where you actively recognise and value the perspectives and needs of all parties.
The next step is to bring the team together and facilitate a constructive dialogue. The goal is not to assign blame or find a winner, but to find a common ground and a solution that works for everyone. Set some ground rules for the discussion, such as respecting each other, avoiding personal attacks, and focusing on facts and feelings. Encourage everyone to share their views and concerns, and acknowledge them. Ask open-ended questions that help the team explore the issue and generate ideas.
If your team is in conflict and you're seeking a promotion, focus on resolving the conflict in a constructive manner while demonstrating leadership skills. Act as a mediator, facilitating open communication and finding common ground among team members. Show your ability to manage difficult situations, promote collaboration, and maintain a positive work environment. Document your efforts and their outcomes, highlighting how you successfully navigated the conflict and contributed to team cohesion. Additionally, continue to excel in your current role, exceed expectations, and actively seek opportunities to showcase your leadership capabilities to increase your chances of promotion.
If you set "some ground rules for the discussion", you assume that the parties are not be able to behave appropriately, and you would put this assumption at the very beginning of the discussion. If you deeply believe that each party is capable of communicating in a respectful way, and you emphasise this, you could make a positive difference: Each party would be given an appreciation, not an negative assumption.
The final step is to help the team reach a consensus and agree on a plan of action. Summarize the main points of the discussion and highlight the areas of agreement and disagreement. Ask the team to vote or rank the possible solutions and see if there is a clear preference. If not, try to find a compromise or a trade-off that satisfies everyone. Make sure everyone understands and commits to the plan, and assign roles and responsibilities.
Once you have a plan, you need to monitor and follow up on its implementation and outcomes. Check in with the team regularly and see how they are progressing and feeling. Provide feedback and support, and celebrate achievements. If there are any issues or changes, communicate them clearly and adjust the plan accordingly. Don't let the conflict re-ignite or fester, but keep the team engaged and motivated.
The last tip is to learn and improve from the experience of dealing with team conflict. Reflect on what worked well and what didn't, and what you can do better next time. Ask for feedback from your team and your manager, and identify your strengths and areas of improvement. Use the feedback to enhance your leadership skills and show that you can handle challenging situations and motivate your team effectively.
By following these tips, you can turn team conflict into an opportunity to demonstrate your leadership skills and boost your chances of promotion. You can show that you can resolve issues, foster collaboration, and achieve results with your team.