Communication And Conflict Resolution Research Assignment (Essay Sample)

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Communication and Conflict Resolution
The performance of the interpersonal teams is largely dependent on the how they relate individually and in teams. Well defined rules and regulations that govern how each member functions or speak as well as defining the general functioning of the entire meeting. Clear meeting objectives need to be adopted as well as settings up appropriate leadership and good communication strategies in order to achieve efficient ground rules. Consequently, sound individual and intergroup relationships are firmed established paving way for successful meetings ahead.
The interprofessional teams stand to achieve more given the combination of their different and unique skills which will be useful in achieving the set goals. However, the success of the team will be attributed to the collaboration and organization of each individual member. Therefore, some of the ground rules that will help guide the team throughout their meetings and work stay include:
Ground Rules for the Team
* Meetings will take place at scheduled times without fail. Any member unable to attend the meeting will be required to confirm with the coordinator.
* Changes in meeting venue will be discussed with every member without fail to ensure seamless continuity during meetings and work.
* Meetings will start every morning unless otherwise decided
* Members are urged to present their ideas and opinions during presentations while the rest of the team listen in
* Conflicting ideas and opinions shall be resolved in an amicable manner.
According to Sims et.al (1982), there are four distinct characteristics emitted by productive teams and their team members. These include communication, cohesion, leadership, and heterogeneity. These different personalities, in turn, cause differences in expectations and experiences by each individual member. These differences in personalities can use to increase the team efficiency by blending each other. However, lack of cooperation from the team members may cause conflicts that may affect the team efficiency. According to Small,(2010), disharmony and disagreements within a group cause differences in the ideas and methods raised by individual members.
Conflict Resolution Strategies for Interprofessional Teams
Dejanasz, Dowd, and Schneider (2002) argued that effective team members in a group experience different stages of evolution namely forming, storming, norming, performing as well as adjourning. Further, they claim that the norming and the storming stages are linked to conflicts and conflict resolution processes. At the storming stage, there are chaos, disorganization and general disputes amongst the group members whereas the exact cause of conflict is yet to be identified. At norming stage, the cause of the conflict is identified and resolved. In addition, appropriate future strategies are put in place allowing members to work well and improve their performance. According to Spreitzer, (1995), differences in attitudes, perceptions, needs, personalities as well as values contribute to the majority of witnessed cases of conflicts. The meeting coordinator should make appropriate channels and avenues that address any forms of conflicts that are experienced during meetings.
Appropriate group communication strategies should be adapted in order to accommodate every group member. Similarly, conflicts identified should be resolved immediately to avoid distracting the vision of the group. Additionally, compassionate communication is a new concept gaining traction in many workplaces and a sure way of eliminating conflicts between members and teams alike. Further, incorporating educational preparation for the team members during morning meetings will help in addressing future conflict. Another strategy for conflict resolution involves weekly or biweekly multidisciplinary meetings that aim to improve the individual and team relationship thus eliminating conflicts during the teams’ stay. Team leadership, as well as individual team members, with prior disciplinary training, can assist in areas that require disciplinary actions including interdisciplinary communications (Krimshtein et al., 2011). During these meetings, some of the issues to be discussed include policy implementation, ground rules, as well as other methods of conflict resolution. Arbitration, mediation, conciliation as well as negotiation can also be used in instances of prolonged conflicts that may require a third party to intervene (Cheeseman, 2018).
Additionally, Brown et al. (2010) found out in their research study that open and direct communication, respect and humility, as well as willingness to find solutions as an effective method of conflict resolution at an individual level. Applied at a macro level, collective use of this strategy by individual participants creates a collective innovative method applied by the entire team to eliminate and resolve conflicts (Greer, Saygi, Aaldering & de Dreu, 2012).
Team members taking the lead in addressing crucial elements in the meetings such as aspects of communication, coordination, conflict resolution, collaboration as well as teamwork should be considered to take up leadership positions. The initial team meetings should address the team leadership. The candidates who volunteer for leadership positions should be voted by the members and the candidate with most votes takes the position. The leadership team is responsible for planning, organizing, coordination as well as conflict resolution activities. The leadership team should oversee the running of the entire program to fruition. The leadership team should ensure seamless information flow to the members and between teams. Failure of the program can be attributed to the team leadership. Therefore, ineffective leaders ought to be removed and replaced with competent leaders.
The leadership team shall ensure that there is no information breakdown between the teams. Information breakdown is a main cause of conflict. Prompt and important information that needs to be accessed by all group members should be communicated directly from the leadership without fail. A measure of leadership success can be attributed to the communication success that is experienced by the team members. Further, the ability of the leadership team to convey information that is easily understood is a key to ensuring that the meeting meets its set objectives. Unclear information will lead to information being misunderstood thus leading to the conflicts and even failure of the meeting. Team leadership is tasked and obligated to provide an effective and efficient communication channel that ensures improvement in the team communication relationship thus reducing potential conflicts (McLaughlin, Pearce & Trenoweth, 2013).
There should be regular reviews of the leadership performance pegged to the success of the team to meet its set objectives. The leadership reviews are weighted against the team successes, conflict resolution, and accountability by the leadership. Group leadership is responsible for team coordination which ultimately defines the success of the team (Locker and Kienzler, 2008). Unsatisfactory leadership reviews mean that the leadership has failed and required immediate replacement. Some of the basic elements of good leadership include being accessible, being non-judgmental as well as employing good-listening skills (Brown et al., 2010). Leaders not exercising such qualities should be replaced to ensure effective conflict resolution.
Communication and Collaboration Strategies
According to Laschinger et al. (2009), the job satisfaction of nurses highly depends on workplaces issues such as personal communication relationship and inter-professional collaboration. Negative workplace issues have a negative influence towards the satisfaction of team members. Likewise, appropriate collaborative and communication strategies should be adopted to ensure the success of the meeting. Various inter-professionals will work effectively given an environment that supports open and supported communication. The leadership is obligated to provide an environment that supports and insists on the importance of open communication within the workstations as well as during meetings. Improved output and research as well as participating in open meetings with various inter-professional members have been achieved as a result of the open communication culture (Gordon & Hamric, 2006).
According to AACN Essentials (2008), effective interpersonal and inter-professional collaboration clearly defines the roles of the members, provides a flexible decision-making process as well as establishing an open communication pattern and leadership. Therefore, to ensure success in providing services to the patients, effective communication and collaboration are vital amongst all professional healthcare providers.
Collaborative software is essential in facilitating groups and teams communicate effectively in a group. In addition to communication, teams and groups are able to coordinate, share, negotiate as well as solve problems more effectively (Smith and MacGregor, 1992). Collaborative technologies can be defined categorized into two main dimensions i.e.:
* Face-to-face or distance: Where the team members are working together in the same place (Face-to-face) or working in different places (distance).
* Real-time or Collaboration: Where the team members are working together at the same time (real time) or are working at different times (collaboration).
They include the following: emails and email lists, workflow systems and group calendars (non-real time collaboration software). The real-time coloration software includes: chat systems, decision support systems and the video communications systems.
Communication strategies involve the use of various methods such as...