Workplace Conflict Will Continue to Distract Management in 2007
For the past decade managers have consistently spent 18% of their time distracted by personnel issues. This is due to several contributing factors:
1. Managers do not understand how to create a harmonious workplace. Without understanding teambuilding concepts that allow employees to identify and resolve their own issues while they are still minor issues, managers are being continually drawn into staff arguments.
2. Managers do not understand transparent leadership. A lack of advanced communication skills leads to a comfort zone for management wherein the manager "hides" thoughts, feelings, and organizational goals. Employs fill in this lack of communication with their own ideas about the results of their department and the mood of the supervisor. Ultimately this will lead to gossip and rumor.
3. Managers fail to complement. With such a large portion of their time spent resolving difficult personnel issues, managers lose their confidence in providing positive feedback to employees. Studies show that management will often feel that complements will come back to haunt them later. Consequently managers are reluctant to give credit for outstanding personal achievement. Employees see this as an insult to their abilities. Eventually employees will stop contributing above average or minimal requirements because of this lack of appreciation.
Multicultural Business Council (MBC) has identified several industry best practices for reducing or eliminating constructive workplace conflict. These best practices include development of intensive conflict resolution skills for managers, slightly more generalized conflict resolution skills for front-line employees, and administering conflict resolution assessments to the entire workforce.
Companies find these steps not only reduce the amount of time management must spend resolving unnecessary workplace conflict, it also results in higher degrees of quality and productivity. One company found an immediate 53% reduction in first-pass line rejects using the best practices identified by MBC. In another company, employee morale at an automotive assembly plant increased when employees started using the conflict resolution skills in their home life. Management at this unionized plant recognized common employees were less tense when they reported to work due to a reduction in personal problems. This also resulted in reduced time spent by management addressing conflicts born out of personal stress and anger by the workers.
------------------
Related Tags: management, workplace, conflict, issues, employee
Rick Weaver is an accomplished business executive with a wealth of experience in retail, market analysis, supply chain enhancement, project management, team building, and process improvement.
Rick career began in retailing as a stockclerk, eventually becoming the Director of Vendor Development at Kmart Corporation during it's heyday. In this position he worked with hundreds of Kmart's suppliers to improve mutual processes, procedures, and profits.
As a consultant, Rick has worked with companies in various industries to develop leadership and business strategies.
As an entrepreneur, Rick has founded or co-founded six successful organizations, including non-profit and for profit.
Now in his role as president of MaxImpact, Rick uses his vast experience helping individuals connect to their dreams and teams connect to a common vision.
Rick's presentation style of blending humor, real life examples, and easy to implement ideas has made him a popular speaker at seminars, workshops, and conferences in in 43 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
(c) Max Impact Corporation
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- 5 Reasons That a Restaurant Should Use a Restaurant Recruiter
Have you ever noticed how many restaurants pop-up over time but then disappear just as quickly? Runn - Does Money Motivate?
Some say money can't buy happiness, but data shows that for those who can barely pay the monthly bil - Because Workforce Friendly Policies Payoff
Employer-sponsored wellness programs are becoming more popular as companies strive to maintain a hea - EAP Value
Life would be simpler if we could set aside our personal issues and emotional baggage when the workd - Hiring an Expert SEO Company to Improve Your Online Business
Search Engine Optimization or SEO Services are used to make your website or online business popular - Why Safety Training at Workplace is Important
Safety training at workplace should be one of the top priorities of your business. An effective safe - Team Building: Brain and Sweat to Attain Company's Central Goal
Are you one of those employees branded ineffective and unproductive? Reasons might be the sense of d - Security Alarm System
It is a must that houses and offices install a security alarm when we speak about safety reasons. Se - Workplace Safety Tips
When we speak of safety based on books, its importance is next to food. It is essential to all indiv - The Benefits Of Lease-to-own Properties
One of the hit real estate investments today is to buy properties that will later be put up as "leas
Most viewed articles in this category:
- A Map Mural for Your Business
Yay! That retail store you've been planning has finally opened its doors and you are officially in b - Attracting Customers Through An Improved Shopping Experience
So many new shopping malls and supermarkets are put up every year. Many more are already in business - "To Oz!": Leading a Resilient-High Achievement Organization
One of my favorite movies is "The Wizard of Oz" based on the book by Frank Baum. The story is about - 5 Critical Items Never to be Included in Cost Benefit Analysis
When dealing with decisions using Cost Benefit Analysis techniques it is very important to follow th - Collaboration and Change
I’m an expert on change and leadership, but my most popular speaking topic this past year, and - Workplace Gap
In your workplace, are you a manager with a smart group of people and they aren't responsive to your - Leadership - The Proper Relationship with Subordinates
In the army, "the men" are kept separated from those known as "the officers." This comes from the id - The 10 Most Asked Questions of Cost Benefit Analysis
When dealing with decisions using Cost Benefit techniques it is very important to follow the proven - Cubicle Space Planning
Space planning is an essential element of any project and efficient planning serves the dual purpose - Why Passenger Surveys are a Transport Operators Best Friend
Public transport operators who already use passenger surveys may not fully appreciate the multiple b