Two team members are at odds during a career coaching session. How can you help them find common ground?

Understanding the root cause of conflict is paramount in resolving disputes between team members. As a career development coach, it's essential to listen actively and empathetically to both parties, acknowledging not just their words but also their underlying emotions. By maintaining neutrality, you can objectively identify the core issues and areas of misunderstanding. This clarity enables you to facilitate constructive dialogue and build a bridge between the conflicting sides. Remember, resolving conflict is not just about finding common ground but also about fostering a culture of open communication. And hey, sometimes a good laugh can be the best icebreaker!

Understanding the root cause of the conflict is the first step. Conduct individual discussions to get each person’s perspective. This helps identify underlying issues, misunderstandings, and emotional triggers. By recognizing the core problem, you can address it more effectively.

Entender as questões que estão causando divergência é um ponto importante na resolução do conflito. Além disto, é importante manter o grupo alinhado com os interesses do todo e as ideias traçadas no início do processo.

En la practica me ha resultado bastante útil intentar entender la posición de la otra persona, en forma objetiva y empática. Esto me ha permitido validar con mayor rigurosidad mi posición considerando los elementos diferenciadores, de forma tal de lograr entregar al equipo mejor calidad de información para su decisión.

Facilitate a discussion about shared aims or the team's overall goals. Focusing on what brings them together helps move the discourse from personal disagreements to shared goals.

Entender quais os objetivos do processo e quais os caminhos para alcançá-los será fundamental para alinhar os interesses do grupo, evitando conflitos desnecessários.

I would highlight shared objectives or goals that both team members care about. This can help shift their focus from individual disagreements to collective outcomes.

Here Interest Based Approach might be really helpful. Cause we mostly argue about something obvious while real interests of both parties are hidden. I'd recommend a book that has helped me a lot in my career: Negotiating the Nonnegotiable by Dan Shapiro

Facilitating a structured dialogue is crucial. Create a safe space for honest communication, allowing each person to express their perspective without interruption or judgment. This process helps each side gain insight into the other's viewpoint, fostering empathy and understanding. Guide them to recognize shared interests and values, which form the foundation for finding common ground.

Possíveis Resultados: 1. Compromisso Mútuo: Uma solução híbrida que incorpore treinamento em habilidades técnicas e de liderança pode ser implementada. Por exemplo, alternar sessões ou dividir o orçamento entre ambas as áreas. 2. Aumento da Coesão da Equipe: Resolver o conflito de maneira colaborativa fortalece a confiança e o respeito mútuo, melhorando a dinâmica da equipe. 3. Melhoria da Produtividade: Abordar as necessidades de desenvolvimento de habilidades tanto técnicas quanto de liderança pode resultar em uma equipe mais versátil e eficaz.

Create a safe space for open communication. Bring the team members together and encourage them to share their views respectfully. As a mediator, guide the conversation to ensure it remains productive. Emphasize active listening and empathy, helping each person to understand the other's point of view. Highlight common goals and interests to foster mutual respect and collaboration.

With a new understanding, it's time to develop solutions together. Encourage brainstorming and cooperative problem-solving, where both parties contribute to creating an action plan. These solutions should address the key issues identified earlier and be mutually beneficial. The goal is to shift from confrontation to collaboration, with both team members feeling invested in the outcome.

Possíveis Resultados: 1. Compromisso Mútuo: Uma solução híbrida que incorpore treinamento em habilidades técnicas e de liderança pode ser implementada. Por exemplo, alternar sessões ou dividir o orçamento entre ambas as áreas. 2. Aumento da Coesão da Equipe: Resolver o conflito de maneira colaborativa fortalece a confiança e o respeito mútuo, melhorando a dinâmica da equipe. 3. Melhoria da Produtividade: Abordar as necessidades de desenvolvimento de habilidades tanto técnicas quanto de liderança pode resultar em uma equipe mais versátil e eficaz.

Guide them through a collaborative problem-solving process in which they all brainstorm solutions to the problems at hand. Emphasize that finding a solution requires a collaborative effort.

Encourage team members to empathize with each other’s positions. Acknowledge their feelings and validate their concerns, which can help reduce tension.

Implementation is where theory meets practice. Assist team members in putting their agreed-upon solutions into action by setting up follow-up meetings, adjusting workflows, or establishing new communication protocols. Ensure the changes are practical and that both parties are accountable for fulfilling their part of the agreement. This step reinforces their commitment to resolving the conflict and progressing in their careers.

Once areas of agreement have been achieved, have both sides commit to specific activities they will take to move forward in a good manner. This could involve improved communication techniques, shared responsibility, or agreed-upon approaches to future disagreements.

Guide the conversation toward underlying interests rather than fixed positions. This can reveal more flexible and compatible solutions.

Finally, monitor how things evolve. Regular check-ins will help you assess if the solutions are effective and if the relationship between team members is improving. This monitoring phase is also an opportunity for additional coaching, helping them refine their collaboration and conflict resolution approaches as their careers progress. Remember, finding common ground is not just about resolving one conflict; it's about equipping them with skills to constructively face future challenges.

Schedule a follow-up session to assess their development and provide more coaching as needed. This demonstrates your ongoing support and helps to guarantee that agreements are upheld.

Finally, work with the entire team to improve cohesion and communication. This could include team-building activities or regular training in successful collaboration and conflict resolution.

I will set a space for them two to observe the conflict from their own eyes. I coach them by letting one express his/her points of view and let the other one repeat, then switch, after several rounds, ask them reflect how they find their listening ability and willingness to listen/ understand each other, why is it? The key is to awaken themselves in the conflict management and truly understand there is nobody is 100% right or wrong.. with the new awareness, it’s already half way in solving, then we proceed the above steps til solve the conflict technically.

Trabalhe com o time a comunicação não agressiva e o trabalho em equipe. A sinergia do grupo impactará diretamente no resultado final.