TEAM CONSULTING

Conflict in the workplace is inevitable. Some types of conflict can inspire creative problem solving and other types can cause needless delays and incur unnecessary costs in money, productivity, and career success. When the personal dimensions of conflict upset the working dynamics of a team, both the organization and the individuals involved pay a price.

Working Dynamics helps teams and leaders achieve success by reducing the time and money spent in unproductive conflict. Success and conflict management go hand in hand. To reach business and career success, leaders and team members alike need to be able to

• handle difficult and tense situations
• approach differences constructively
• communicate interests effectively
• orchestrate solutions to problems, and
• spot potential conflict

Clients request our help at two different points — when they need immediate help with a team experiencing difficulty and when they want to look at systems, practices, behaviors, and skills within their organization so they can position themselves better for the future.

When a team is currently experiencing difficulty (e.g., the team isn't performing as it should due to conflict, team relationships are strained, and/or team communication has shut down or become disrespectful), Working Dynamics will

• Identify the issues
• Recommend options for next steps
• Use appropriate strategies to resolve existing conflict and create a climate where momentum can be regained

When leadership wants to change how conflict is managed within the organization (e.g., conflict's useful functions develop and its more "toxic" forms are minimized or avoided entirely), Working Dynamics will

• Identify existing strengths along with ways to improve communication, work relationships, and current methods of responding to conflict
• Report results and recommend procedure to put into place in order to manage future conflict constructively
• Train staff and develop leaders to increase ability to communicate effectively, build working relationships, and respond to conflict in the workplace in a constructive way

When teams have mastered the art of working together, you can expect dramatically higher levels of productivity, performance, and job satisfaction.