Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Choose Your Battles: The CEO’s Map for Handling Conflict

Posted by: John P. Palen, CEO - Allied Executives

Every organization has conflict, and not every conflict requires the CEO’s involvement. But when a big problem shows up that impacts the profits, reputation or operations of the company, it’s time for the CEO to step in.

Avoid the urge to jump to a quick conclusion. The best solutions come from gathering feedback from everyone involved. You need information — the right information — to uncover the true problem underneath visible symptoms. Your goal isn’t just to fix the problem, but to get everyone on board with the solution.

Most people approach conflict from a win-lose perspective: in the end, someone will win and someone will lose. The leader’s job is to find a solution where there can be more than one winner, or at least an acceptable compromise that feels like winning. Involve all relevant parties in the investigation and ask for their best ideas.

The resolution should also align with the company’s core values and purpose.

If the conflict is around insufficient technologies or communication to serve customers properly, then the resolution should not only solve the problem, but also lead to better customer service. If the conflict revolves around a person, then the awareness and development plan of that person should lead to better workflow and culture. In rare cases, the answer is to help a person find another job, but that too can be a win-win in the end.

CEOs who are comfortable with the process of conflict resolution will run more fulfilling and dedicated work environments because people will feel empowered and supported to do their best work — without drama. That, in turn, leads to more growth and success.

At Allied Executives, we deal with conflict and drama in a controlled environment. Feel free to bring your hot topics as a member of a peer group, and learn new techniques for conflict resolution.

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