Unlocking Leadership Skills: How to Effectively Resolve Conflicts in Teams
In both our academic and professional lives, confronting disagreement and conflict when working with others is inevitable? As future leaders, how should we respond to these challenges and enhance our leadership skills? Let’s explore how to resolve team conflicts with the ILM Leadership Development Center.
Imagine you’re the leader of a team, but disagreements between two team members are deepening, leading to division and decreased efficiency within the team. In this situation, what would you choose to do? Intervene directly, or attempt to mediate?
First, let’s consider the impact of direct intervention. While this may quickly solve the problem, it doesn’t help team members learn how to resolve conflicts on their own. As leaders, our goal should be to cultivate the team’s problem-solving abilities. If we force them to act according to our commands, they won’t learn how to resolve conflicts and will become more dependent on our authority.
Mediation, on the other hand, is a more effective approach. It allows team members to participate in the decision-making process, making them more likely to own and implement the decision. Through mediation, we can foster a spirit of unity and cooperation within the team, enhancing overall team efficiency.
However, the mediation process is not easy.
First, we need to calm both parties’ emotions. The focus at this stage is not on discussing how to resolve the conflict but on taking the time to understand the disagreement and convincing the parties that you are willing to listen and help them re-establish respect and trust for each other.
Next, we need to guide both parties to articulate their thoughts, needs, and priorities. Encourage them to find their own methods for solving the problem and to take responsibility for reaching an agreement.
If efforts fail and the problem remains unresolved, as the team’s leader, you may have to make a final decision, choosing a solution that benefits everyone.
Of course, we can’t always smoothly resolve every issue, but it’s these challenges that shape our leadership. So, don’t be afraid of difficulties. The skills you learn while helping to resolve conflicts—listening, understanding, and fairness—are invaluable in interpersonal relationships. By becoming an effective mediator, you can not only help resolve current disputes but also lay a good foundation for handling more complex relationships in the future.
If you also want to enhance your leadership skills, the ILM Youth Leadership Program is always welcoming new participants. This program is designed specifically for young people aged 16-24, especially those who wish to study abroad or enhance their competitiveness in the workplace. Participants can learn practical skills such as leadership behavior, effective communication, goal setting, conflict management, growth mindset, resilience, stress management, and time management. Upon completion, participants also receive a globally recognized leadership certificate, adding a highlight to their resumes.
