Tactics For Producing Constructive Conflict

Managers know that within their teams conflict is inevitable. They also know that the challenge is to keep conflict productive and focussed on the issues and to prevent it from becoming toxic or personal.

Teams that perform best embrace conflict using six key tactics.

Number one: Work with more rather than less information

A healthy supply of objective, up-to-the-minute data can switch the focus from personalities, opinions and guesses to a debate about hard facts and real issues.

Number two: Enrich the debate with multiple options

Teams that consider only two alternatives can easily split into entrenched factions. In contrast, teams that consider multiple options diffuse conflict and spend their energy instead on coming up with creative solutions.

Number 3: Establish common goals

When strategic or tactical choices are framed as opportunities to collaborate rather than compete, decision making becomes less about winners and losers and more about shared outcome.

Number 4: Inject humour into the workplace

Humour relieves tension, promotes collaboration and emphasises the thrill of the challenge rather than the stress of competition.

Number 5: Maintain a balanced corporate power structure

When managers are empowered with responsibility in their own areas of expertise it makes decision making fairer and minimises the need to angle for a spot in the pecking order.

Number 6: Issue resolution

Finally, the sixth tactic is a two-step approach to resolve issues without forcing a consensus. Team members first talk over an issue and try to agree. If they can, great ! If not, the most relevant senior manager makes the decision, guided by input from the group. This encourages everyone to share ideas but clearly defines how decisions will be made.

These six tactics create productive conflict with a focus on issues, not personalities. Put these principles into practice and your organisation will thank you.