Taking Charge Of Organizational Conflict

Exploring the role of conflict in organisations, this book helps managers, employees, and organisations come to grips with all types of conflict. Conflict is discussed as a likely result of human interaction, and the key purpose of this program is to assist people in effectively and productively managing and taking advantage of these inevitable conflict situations. A self-contained training curriculum around which an entire organisational conflict management program can be built, this book is designed for use as a guide to harnessing and taking advantage of the enormous energy associated with conflict, and is loaded with activities designed to reinforce and build on the understandings developed and to provide plenty of opportunity to practice what has been learned. Activities can be used to facilitate formal training with individuals, in work groups, or for personal use.

Conflict in business and personal relationships is inevitable--much of the success of companies depends on how well they respond to it. Developing rapport, collaboration and cooperation hinges on positive conflict management strategies that stimulate innovation and growth where companies can look for solutions to common issues and needs. Conflict management can address dysfunctional outcomes that result in job stress, less effective communication and a climate of distrust, where working relationships are damaged and job performance reduced. Organizations must minimize and resolve internal and external conflicts to remain vibrant and profitable. Drawing on examples from a wide range of corporate experiences, this volume provides role-playing scenarios, checklists, tables and research studies to help employees, managers and owners better comprehend the dynamics of conflict in every interaction.

While some of us enjoy a lively debate with colleagues and others prefer to suppress our feelings over disagreements, we all struggle with conflict at work. Every day we navigate an office full of competing interests, clashing personalities, limited time and resources, and fragile egos. Sure, we share the same overarching goals as our colleagues, but we don't always agree on how to achieve them. We work differently. We rub each other the wrong way. We jockey for position. How can you deal with conflict at work in a way that is both professional and productive—where it improves both your work and your relationships? You start by understanding whether you generally seek or avoid conflict, identifying the most frequent reasons for disagreement, and knowing what approaches work for what scenarios. Then, if you decide to address a particular conflict, you use that information to plan and conduct a productive conversation. The HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict will give you the advice you need to: Understand the most common sources of conflict Explore your options for addressing a disagreement Recognize whether you—and your counterpart—typically seek or avoid conflict Prepare for and engage in a difficult conversation Manage your and your counterpart's emotions Develop a resolution together Know when to walk away Arm yourself with the advice you need to succeed on the job, with the most trusted brand in business. Packed with how-to essentials from leading experts, the HBR Guides provide smart answers to your most pressing work challenges.

Through studies of actual cases of manager succession, Gabarro isolates those factors that cause managers to succeed or fail in new positions, including prior experiences and support from superiors, and the steps involved in mastering the situation. Winner of the Johnson, Smith & Knisely Award for New Perspectives on Executive Leadership.

This text is unique in looking at the positive effects of conflict in groups and organizations. The book is able to provide a general theoretical framework and a sharp focus on thematic issues.

"In the tradition of bestselling explainers like The Tipping Point, [this] book [is] based on cutting edge science that breaks down the idea of extreme conflict--the kind that paralyzes people and places--and then shows how to escape it"--