It can be difficult enough to keep a project on track: budgets, timing, requirements, deliverables. If you add a team to the mix, you will face conflicts of ideas, opinions, or worse, personalities every now and again. It’s one thing to resolve disagreements between your stakeholders, but dealing with in-fighting within your team can be extremely stressful, upsetting, and difficult to manage. You can solve any disagreement with your natural problem-solving instincts and basic conflict resolution skills.
Identify the Issue Head on
It is your responsibility as a project manager to raise issues. If you see or hear of an issue in your team, make sure to address it immediately. If the situation is between two people, you can pull them aside and discuss it. If tensions are high, bring it up and explain the consequences. Sometimes, if you explain to someone that they are creating bigger problems within a team they will take a step back. Sometimes it’s not so easy. Give the person some time to calm down if they seem to be getting heated. You might need to put things aside for a while, or even a whole day. It is best to mention the issue and get everyone back together to discuss it and its impacts when tempers are calm.
Talk and Listen
Once everyone is calm, gather the parties involved (whether it’s just a few people or the entire team) for a larger discussion. It is your responsibility as the project leader to make sure everyone feels heard and happy. Sometimes people don’t realize that their emotions and opinions can hinder good work. This can lead to a breakdown in work relationships and work. This is a recipe for disaster. Instead, focus on project success.
Before you bring up the issue, make sure to establish ground rules for the meeting.
1. The issue is over. We are not going back on our decisions or holding grudges.
This is crucial. This is important. Arguments and finger-pointing will only make the problem worse and hinder your ability to get the results you need.
2. Everyone will have the opportunity to speak.
It is important to let everyone know that this meeting will be a positive environment where everyone can have a voice. If one person feels left out, it will show in the meeting. You must try your best to facilitate the meeting and ensure that all parties have an opportunity to speak up.
3. Everyone will be heard.
Although you won’t be able to make sure people listen, you can ask them. You’ll be able to have healthy conversations sooner if you create an environment where all opinions are heard. You might need to moderate to achieve this. You shouldn’t let one person dominate the conversation. Don’t let anyone cut off another. However, you must not allow anyone to hide the problem. Some people are more inclined to avoid problems than others, and that’s not always a bad thing. While you don’t want to force anyone to speak up, you can use the “speak immediately or forever hold your peace” rule at meetings like these if everyone has had a chance to speak.
4. As a team, we will reach a solution.
Everyone should know that the goal of the meeting is to find a solution together. You can allow people to vent, but you must also let them know that every comment should lead to a solution. This is not a forum to complain. It’s a place where you can fix an issue and strengthen your team bond.
Pay Attention to Your Language
Remember that the language you use in the meeting will have a significant impact on the outcome of your interactions with your team, not only during the meeting but also after it. Disagreements can definitely ruin your r
