The ability to work well with other people within a work environment is fundamental to productivity and effectiveness in patient care (Marquis & Huston, 2015). However, within active environments where interactions take place among many people all the time, there is a greater chance of conflict. Marquis and Huston (2015) mention that within a work environment there often is a variety of different values, beliefs, backgrounds, and goals coming from each individual. This leads to the expected outcome that there will be conflict. Within my professional practice regarding leadership, I want to apply conflict resolution.
Conflict to me is something that I would like to avoid all together. Working at a senior living, I am the nurse manager, meaning I am in charge of the Certified Nurse Aids (CNAs). When going to work there are many tasks that I must complete during my shift and the last thing I want to add to it would be a conflict between the CNAs. Unfortunately, this happens more often than not. The types of conflicts vary including, intergroup, intrapersonal, and interpersonal conflicts. The most common type is interpersonal conflict which is a conflict between two or more people with differing values, goal, and beliefs (Marquis & Huston, 2015). There has been hostility and arguing on the floor, and this cannot be tolerated or avoided. Regrettably, I have avoided a conflict and the work flow of the night was disrupted. However, I have had a positive experience as
Although many of us go great lengths to avoid it, sometimes it is just inevitable. People in the workplace setting will always have different ideas, values, and attitudes than others around them. A conflict can arouse in any given setting, and the affect it can have on those involved can either be negative or positive. Depending on the approach and strategies utilized during and after a conflict will determine the result of the conflict. Conflict helps people recognize legitimate differences within an organization or profession and serves as a powerful motivator to improve performance and effectiveness, as well as satisfaction (CCN, 2017). This paper will identify and explore a particular recurring conflict in the
A conflict can be described as an interpersonal disagreement between two or more parties having a difference in opinion, controversy, negative understanding or insufficient communication (McKibben, 2017). Within the healthcare arena, conflict cannot be avoided. It can have the ability to have a negative impact on the function of the team and result in inadequate patient care. When poor patient care is provided, the integrity of the nurse, the nursing profession, and healthcare as a whole is endangered (McKibben, 2017). As a result, conflict management is the process of recognizing and dealing with conflict in a realistic, fair, and competent fashion. Productive communication, problem solving, and discussing with a focus on the issues are required skills needed for conflict management (Saeed, Almas, Anis-ul-Haq, & Niazi, 2014).
In this paper I will discuss the conflict that is occurring at General Hospital, the conflict management styles that are evident in the case, and how General Hospital could have used teams to address the cost reductions needed to stay competitive. I will also describe how the CEO of General Hospital, Mike Hammer can us negotiation skills to get buy-in for the cost reductions and finally I will recommend a strategy for Hammer to resolve the problem.
Conflict results from real or perceived opposition to one’s values, actions, desires or general interests. Conflicts may occur internally or externally between individuals or groups; conflict within a team environment can cause frustration, and occasionally anger. However, conflict resolution can also often generate positive results for the team. Conflict management skills remain in demand; conflict may be managed successfully by reaching an agreement that satisfies the needs of both the individual(s) and the team as a whole
Conflict has been an issue for man since the dawn of civilization. In today’s fast paced world conflict, especially in the workplace, is a frequent occurrence. When that workplace is a health care environment where lives are at stake, emotions run high and collaboration with many different disciplines is required conflict often becomes a prevalent part of everyday life. Conflicts in the workplace can lead to reduced morale, lowered productivity resulting in decreased patient care and can cause large scale confrontations (Whitworth 2008). In the field of nursing whether a conflict is with a peer, supervisor, physician, or a patient and their family, conflict management is a necessary skill.
There are two different types of conflicts that could happen in a work place which would be functional and dysfunctional. A functional conflicts is a healthy, constructive disagreement between a groups or individual. A dysfunctional conflict is an unhealthy disagreement that occurs among an individual or groups of employees. A functional conflict will leave employees on a positive note it would only bring awareness to both sides of the issue, improvement of working conditions due to accomplishing solution together, solving issues together to improve overall morale, and making innovation and improvements with an organization. A functional conflict is something everyone is known as a win-win conflict. A dysfunctional conflict stem from emotions and behavioral origins, will have a negative impact for both parties that are having the conflict and the company. Dysfunctional conflicts are commonly known as win-lose conflict (Lombardo, 2003). It is not good for you to try and avoid a work conflict, it only making problems bigger. Work conflicts often happens from communications errors such as poor information, no information and misinformation. Another reason why a work conflict could happen because of emotions. Work place conflicts could emerge in any number of forms but there are some general variety types of conflicts that are repeated on the basis such as conflicts with the boss, conflicts with peers, and
Conflict will always exist when a group or team is composed with different people with different approaches and ideas. Conflict cannot be avoided and in inevitable. As nurses, it is imperative that we have conflict resolution skills to deal with our day to day encounters (Yoder-Wise,2015).
After realizing the issue, I understood the need for some form of conflict resolution (C #22). This colleague’s values, beliefs and assumptions were quite different from my own; as a result, our interactions were at times difficult, and conflict would result (C #65). We spoke at length and came to a mutual understanding regarding the need for professionalism and a smooth working relationship (C #11, #46). Later in my career, I had the opportunity to lead a conflict resolution workshop, and help teach others in the workplace how to manage and resolve conflicts when they arose. The approach to conflict resolution must depend on both the individuals involved, as well as the particular issue at the centre of the conflict (C #59). In my work with others, I adopted the transformational style of leadership to inspire others and ensure they had the confidence and understanding needed to better manage their conflicts (C #13). I felt that this was appropriate because many of the other nurses did not understand the need for the workshop at the onset of our meetings; adopting an approach that could inspire them through my communication of a clear vision was the best way to ensure I could successfully lead them and help facilitate our mutual learning (C #25, #48). Throughout this process, I continuously evaluated my choice of
As nurses, it is imperative that we have skills to deal with conflict we encounter throughout the day. Some conflicts are easily handled with simple solutions; other disagreements can persist for weeks or even months and never be handled in a proper way to resolve the situation. The later kind of situation can create resentment, anger, and animosity between employees or colleagues. In this paper I will describe a conflict situation with resolution strategies used by the confronter, discuss other ways to resolve the conflict, and discuss the conflict theory most beneficial to use with a diverse group of people.
Conflict is a fact of life - for individuals, organizations, and societies. The costs of conflict are well-documented - high turnover, grievances and lawsuits, absenteeism, divorce, dysfunctional families, prejudice, fear. What many people don't realize is that well-managed conflict can actually be a force for positive change.
In this writing, we will explore and explain strategies of conflict resolution and, encourage teams, individuals and society as a whole to use some of these ideas for their own resolution purposes. “In many cases, effective conflict resolution skills can make the difference between positive and negative outcomes.” (Conflict resolution, 2008). With this in mind, individuals will have hope for a more positive team experience.
Behfar, K. J., Peterson, R. S., Mannix, E. A., & Trochim, W. M. K. (2008). The critical role of conflict resolution in teams: A close look at the links between conflict type, conflict management strategies, and team outcomes. Journal of Applied Psychology,
In trying to resolve the conflict between Reece and Patel, Edwards used an avoidance strategy. Instead of speaking directly about the root causes, or sources, of the conflict, Edwards focused on the behaviors and treated Reece and Patel like children. Edwards scolded them, and sent them off without bothering to find out what was bothering the two. Of course, this type of conflict resolution is ineffective because it fails to address the underlying issues. As Anderson (n.d.) points out, addressing the problem is key to conflict resolution. "When a conflict does happen, a manager needs to focus the conflicting parties on the issue and have them leave out any personal problems they may be having," (Anderson, n.d.).
Conflict is inescapable, having the ability to recognize, understand, and resolve conflicts are important in both personal and professional lives. Myatt (2012) states that conflict in the workplace is unavoidable; if left unresolved, workplace conflict may result in loss of productivity and the creation of barriers that can inhibit creativity, cooperation, and collaboration. It is vital to embrace conflict and address problems through effective conflict-resolution tactics because if not handled appropriately, conflict will escalate. “If not handled properly, conflict may significantly affect employee morale, increase turnover, and even result in litigation, ultimately affecting the overall well-being of
For many of us, every day is a struggle to avoid conflict. Yet avoidance is practically impossible since the core characteristics, ideas and beliefs of each individual often conflict with our own. Differences of opinion, competitive zeal, and misinterpretations, among other factors, can all generate ill feelings between co-workers within an organization. While we can’t avoid conflict, we can learn how to sidestep negative confrontations by becoming familiar with the types of conflicts that most commonly arise in the work place and by learning how to resolve them.