Conflicts in meetings can be a double-bladed sword which is disruptive
or helpful. In fact, sometimes conflict can be the quickest and best way to
make creative progress. However, if the person continues past the point of
disagreement to the point of disruptiveness, meeting chair should take action
to control it. Below is a list of conflict resolution tactics that you can use
for meetings that get "out of control".
Preventing
·
Ground Rules - set up ground rules and get agreement at the beginning of
meeting
·
Emphasizing the Team - Let everyone know the goals are owned by team instead of individual
·
Listening - Sometimes listening identifies a need for problem solving. To
be open for conflict and show respect for everyone. Everyone will be invited to contribute, so
that one person cannot take over the discussion.
Controlling and Resolving
·
Stay Calm - Give a few minutes for participants to calm down and defer the
subject to later in the meeting to handle
·
Empathy - Express your understanding but make a fair decision
·
Ask questions and seek
solution - Ask question to
monitor team focusing on research and solution instead of arguments
·
Record the Discussion - Meeting minute is an objective document to prevent any twist.
Outsiders can rely on it to make judgment.
·
Depersonalization - When conflict rises, team should focus on "what" is
the argument instead of "Who" rise different opinion
·
Taking things offline - When the conflict can't be resolved in the meeting, either time
limit or sensitive personal issues, chair need to record the argument and
reschedule another meeting to solve it.
Proper preparation is useful to avoid
conflicts in meetings. It's particularly important to make sure your
expectations match what the group is capable of handling. Know yourself, and
your team, well enough so that you can foresee tensions that may exist between people and
have strategies in place to deal with them.
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