Collaboration or Conflict Avoidance
In my recent experience working with leaders and teams there is a consistent expectation that everyone work in a collaborative style.
However, in some of the teams with which I have worked, the word "collaboration" sometimes becomes synonymous for "harmony" or interpreted as "don't make waves," "go along with the majority," or "let's not make anyone uncomfortable." Instead of collaboration you might unintentionally be creating a culture of conflict avoidance where differences of opinion and diversity are not welcome.
So, how can you discern collaboration from conflict avoidance? Below are behaviors to watch out for that may indicate conflict avoidance:
What can you do to ensure that collaboration includes dealing with differences, disagreements and diverse opinions?
Collaboration is certainly how we want our leaders and teams to work together. It is important that, in the spirit of collaboration, we also allow for diversity of ideas and constructive conflict.
COPYRIGHT AND PUBLISHER INFORMATION
© Carole Rehbock. All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this publication may be reproduced without express written permission from the publisher.
However, in some of the teams with which I have worked, the word "collaboration" sometimes becomes synonymous for "harmony" or interpreted as "don't make waves," "go along with the majority," or "let's not make anyone uncomfortable." Instead of collaboration you might unintentionally be creating a culture of conflict avoidance where differences of opinion and diversity are not welcome.
So, how can you discern collaboration from conflict avoidance? Below are behaviors to watch out for that may indicate conflict avoidance:
- Silence being interpreted as agreement
- A team member disagrees with an approach and other members tell him/her why they should go along with what is being said
- An idea is brought up and the topic gets switched to something else before questions can be asked
- Discussions are ended abruptly with someone withdrawing from the conversation
- Decisions are mainly done by majority
- Time is mainly spent on trying to solve the problem before issues are thoroughly discussed
What can you do to ensure that collaboration includes dealing with differences, disagreements and diverse opinions?
- The leader and the group contract as to how they would like to deal with differences when they arise
- Create an environment where team members are encouraged to participate especially if they have a different opinion
- Make time for the group to brainstorm diverse approaches to a situation or problem
- Take a perspective of being curious in asking each other questions rather then being adversarial in their questioning
- Instead of immediately judging ideas in terms of right and wrong, keep a mindset of exploration.
Collaboration is certainly how we want our leaders and teams to work together. It is important that, in the spirit of collaboration, we also allow for diversity of ideas and constructive conflict.
COPYRIGHT AND PUBLISHER INFORMATION
© Carole Rehbock. All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this publication may be reproduced without express written permission from the publisher.
