Conflict Resolution Mastering the Art of Workplace Harmony ft. Nadine Greck
Conflict at work is unavoidable. When people from diverse backgrounds with different personalities, priorities and stresses are all attempting to work towards the same goal, clashes are simply inevitable.
In this podcast, Elise Stevens speaks with mediation coach Nadine Greck about how to deal with conflict at work.
According to Nadine, we are all in control of how we react to conflict. If we want to contribute productively to our teams and organisations, it’s time to change the way we think about it.
Points raised in this podcast:
- Conflict at work is unavoidable, but we are all in control of how we react to it.
- Conflict usually arises for one of two reasons – either we disprove of the behaviour of another person, or we feel limited in our feelings, thoughts or actions.
- Not all conflict is damaging – conflict can be either functional or dysfunctional.
- Functional conflict can help members of a team learn more about each other, discover new tools and techniques and generate new ideas.
- Dysfunctional conflict occurs when there is a lack of trust and respect.
- High staff turnover, stalled projects and miscommunication are all signs of underlying conflict.
- Conflict consumes energy and can create stress. According to a KPMG study, managers spend 30-50% of their time managing conflict and likewise, employees spend 10-30% of their time dealing with conflict.
- When conflict arises, it is important to reflect on how we have contributed to the conflict and why we feel aggrieved. Often, we have put our own lens on someone else’s behaviour and misunderstood their motivations.
- Mediation can help to resolve conflict by fostering open communication and cooperation and should be approached with a positive or neutral attitude towards the issues to be discussed.
About Nadine:
Nadine Greck is a mediator and coach, specialising in conflict, team building and business succession. She is the co-founder and chief networker at the Global Group Network and an accredited business mediator in the mediator pool of the IHK Munich and Upper Bavaria.
Nadine spent 14 years at Telefonica Germany & Global, most recently as senior project manager within the in-house consulting and management of projects related to the merger of O2 with E-Plus, in the business customer, logistics, innovation and human resources areas and cross-company project management with Deutsche
Telekom and 1&1.
She is also an experienced guest speaker and columnist.
You can connect with Nadine on LinkedIn.