Houston, we have a problem, I think?!

Why they should fight!

Dethra U. Giles, MBA, MSCM, SPHRDirector, HR and Administration, Emory University, Oxford College

What are other negative impacts of

dysfunctional team?

@dugiles Dethra Giles Dethra Giles

 

The Story of Daniel!

• Turn off your cell phones or put them on vibrate

• Participate!!!!! (This is an interactive session)

• Respect fellow participants! • Keep an open mind• Enjoy the ride

 

 

Dare to disagree

 

Disasters caused by a failure to have conflict

• Continued Childhood cancer (Alice Stewart, Oxford 1950)

• Avianca Flight 52: Bogota, Colombia to New York (1990)

• The unopened message: Battle of Trenton, 1776 (Fought between George Washington and Johan Rall)

• The Shuttle Challenger (1986)

 

Number of CEOs interviewed: 85% said they avoided conflict because they did not know how to manage

conflict or did not want to deal with the fallout

 

Institutional cultures that thwart discord!

What is the biggest challenge to constructive discord in the workplace?

 

Decrease in childhood cancer deaths

• Dr. Alice Stewart and George Neal• Dr. Stewart discovered a link

between x-rays and childhood cancer• Research done in the 50’s but X-rays

were not stopped until the 70’s• The Woman Who Knew Too Much: Alice Stewart and the Secrets of

Radiation

 

Why did Dr. Stewart and Mr. Neal work

• They sought out disagreement• Developed patience• Appreciated differences• Saw conflict as thinking• They mastered the art of “fighting”

You don’t get harmony when everyone sings the

same note.-Doug Floyd

The Key

Dr. Stewart had the Key based on what her daughter said

Let’s be HONEST!!!!

• Conflict is THINKING and we have to get good at it!

How?• See conflict as an opportunity to learn and

gain understanding• Be respectful and control your emotions• Ask questions• Mitigate unhealthy conflict management by

others• Validate other’s points• Manage your stuff• No one is perfect and You, yes you, could

be wrong

The Leading ExpertJohn and Keisha are the leading experts in

their field but they cannot seem to agree on anything. It would be wonderful to put them on a project together but every conversation between the two lead to a big blow up: neither has mastered the art of holding their tongue. Both, Keisha and John are currently working on a project with the CEO. The CEO has taken the lead and is using questionable data. Both John and Keisha are quiet what do you do?

When to encourage

• Healthy; and

• Productive; and

• Failing to engage in conflict will have a worse outcome than the silence

So, the reality is?

It is AAB (All About Business)

Creating a Conflict Culture

• Empower people to disagree

• Embrace differences

• Hire well

• Train leadership

• Have leadership model the behavior

• Practice

• Readjust and reassure

This starts at HOME in your department

What is your plan?

QUESTIONS?Dethra U. Giles

dugiles@execuprep.com

1-866-580-2596