Tackling team conflicts and boosting a healthy work culture

Ever came across teammates, whose first reaction on any new changed work process is, “I am in this industry since last ABC years and I am telling you this new process is not going to work either”. I have and rather than feeling negative about the approach, I chose to say, ” Let us give it our best and see what happens next.” I am really happy to say those words of mine came back to me from the same teammate where he mentioned the team’s attitude is what has made the process a success.

I have worked as a Co-Founder with completely distinct teams and personalities. A startup is an environment where the motivation of the team can take you places. I noticed then that a lot of time of the other co-founders also went in grooming their managers so that the team spirit was maintained. Perhaps that is one of the reasons, every year on my birthday since then, I get a chance to speak to them heart to heart and gather their current updates on life and work.

This blog shall have collaborative tips from me both as an Employer and an Employee. No matter your designation, the only trait of the game that matters is teamwork.

Avoid Favoritism – As a manager, you might face deteriorated performances of once hard-working teammates is because of the way you treat the rest of the teammates. Any individual who is skilled and has complete knowledge of the domain will always work as guided. So as a manager, ensure you clearly guide your team in the beginning of the project to avoid chaos. The consequences of any fallout among the team should be told to all in the beginning to avoid friction in the later stages of the project.

Feedback Window – Whether you are an employer or employee, always keep the window open for feedback. One of the positives while working with skilled individuals is they know the process inside out and will contribute to the best of their knowledge by adding their insights in the form of feedback. Another key factor to keep in mind is – Treat all with respect. Many organizations see their most valued assets leaving the organization abruptly because of the work culture which lacks mutual respect.

Never burn down bridges – This point is especially important for the managers who are on constant travel and ultimately lose a grip on their teammates’ concerns related to friction at work. No matter how busy your schedule is, ensure a timely response to your team and actively listen to their concerns. If you are able to resolve it at an early stage, you can have swift and timely project delivery. Communication is the key to work with everyone even those employees who have not been in touch with you on a regular basis.

Dealing with over smart lads – As an employer, I used to receive concerns from teammates blaming their managers for not providing them with enough time and resources to finish a task. However, after speaking with the manager, I realized there was a lack of clarity which led to this circle of blame game. However, you won’t come across this situation every time where both the parties will share the genuine concerns. There might be cases where an ill performing employee might act smart and escalate challenges working with you as a Manager. Make sure, you maintain written delegation of responsibilities with this lot of individuals ensuring timely response to keep yourself protected from office politics.

Confronting the over smart category of individuals is a key opener while resolving conflicts and as a manager ensure your team is given the healthy work atmosphere they deserve. Any workplace should encourage the team to work daily with a happy mind. You can also reach your HR and gather tips to deal with the individual who is creating issues with everyone.

Let me know specific challenges that you face as a Project Manager using the comments section below. I will surely get back to you with best remedies to deal with it.