LDR/531 Version 5 / 1
Storybook #3:
· What strategies would you use to help your team alleviate stress caused by deadlines before any conflict arises?
General question for all three storybooks:
· Think about a personal situation from your work experience that is similar to each storybook scenario. How would you approach the situation differently based on the principles you learned in the storybooks? How might the results change?
Storybook 3: Conflict Management Transcript
Narrator Your team is hard at work trying to find a vendor for its “Talk to a Sandwich” interactive marketing tool. It’s a pretty big project, so you and your team are feeling the pressure. The last thing you need to deal with is, y’know, some sort of conflict between team members.
Alas… that is exactly what happens. And even worse, the conflict is between Antonio and John, two of your most talented people. It starts off pretty minor. A few passive-aggressive comments here, a sideways glance there. But then things start getting… a little heated.
When John misses an internal deadline, Antonio sends out this e-mail to the whole team.
Antonio We really can’t have people missing any deadlines on this, even internal deadlines. It’s unacceptable. I think some people on this team need to think about whether they can really commit to this project.
Narrator John angrily hits Reply All and types.
John I had a deliverable on another project and had to prioritize. Antonio, if you have a problem with my work, at least have the guts to say it to my face.
Narrator Antonio fires back.
Antonio What work? Oh, did you finally finish that vendor proposal? Took you long enough. Miss another deadline and I’ll see to it you get moved off the team.
Narrator Todd tries to chip in.
Todd Guys, please! This is making everybody uncomfortable.
Narrator Antonio and John send the same e-mail at almost exactly the same time:
Antonio
and John BUTT OUT, TODD!
Narrator In a team meeting later that day, Antonio and John sit as far away from each other as possible and don’t make eye contact once. The team can’t work like this, especially with corporate expecting a big presentation on the “Talk to a Sandwich” campaign in only a few weeks. So, what do you do?
[End of Audio]
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