Finding WinWin Solutions An exploration of possible solutions for reducing conflict during project m

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Finding Win/Win SolutionsAn exploration of
possible solutions for reducing conflict during
project management.

• 2005 National Convention
• Presented by Jennifer Trimmel

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Agenda - Today we will discuss

• What triggers conflict
• Contributing factors
• 3 Areas that influence our projects success.
• Suggestions for altering how we might communicate
  during conflicting situations

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Why does conflict occur?

• Differences in our
• Beliefs
• Values
• Experiences
• Education
• Culture
• Attitude

• Differences can help us to develop the best
  possible solution.
• We only need to identify them, embrace them and
  tap into them.

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Understanding Conflict

• Is conflict always a bad thing?
• Opportunity to identify problems
• Opportunity to find solutions
• Catalyst for change

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Resolving Conflict contributing factors to
consider

• Needs
• Perceptions Opinions - Assumptions
• Desire for Power
• Values
• Feelings and Emotions
• Fear of Change
• Influencing Conflicts - PERSONAL OR GROUP
  CONFLICTS

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Conflict during projects

• Assumptions and the confusion between
  facts/opinions
• Embracing Change - Getting out of the groove
• Power Struggles

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Assumptions
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The power of assumptions

• The dictionary defines "assumption" as "something
  taken for granted.
• In simpler terms its a belief, theory,
  hypothesis, idea, concept, possibility, best
  guess

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Are we fully conscious of our assumptions or not?

• In general people do not like to be told that
  theyre making an assumption they'd rather
  believe they are operating on a fact(s) only
  basis.

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When you evaluate information it is very
important to
distinguish between fact and opinion

• A fact is something concrete that can be proven.
• You can find facts in legal records, scientific
  findings, encyclopaedias, atlases, etc. In other
  words, facts are the truth and are accepted as
  such.

• An opinion is less concrete. It's a view formed
  in the mind of a person about a particular issue.

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An exercise to consider doing

• 1.) give each member of the group two sets of
  post-its (different colours) and one marker, have
  handy a white board or chart paper
• 2.) have the group write on one colour of
  post-its, all the FACTS, what they know to be
  true about the topic post on FACT chart
• 3.) then have the group write on the other
  coloured post-its, all the OPINIONS they have
  about the topic post on OPINION chart
• 4.) read aloud and discuss some folks around the
  table may challenge which side the statement is
  on and that discussion in itself can be revealing

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Assumptions good or bad?

• Assumptions can be made by everyone -
  individuals, organizations, communities,
  cultures, and professions.
• The power of assumptions doesn't necessarily
  depend on their being true.
• For example
• Lets consider altering the way we assume

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Assuming productively

• Suggestions
• Assume positively to enhance brainstorming
  abilities/outcomes. It helps to identify what
  can be possible and what needs attention.
• Assume both sides of the scenario
• Example

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Assuming productively

• Some assumptions tend to limit the scope of
  thought and action others expand it.
• Example
• This opens the door for challenging the status
  quo and with it comes the challenge of embracing
  change.

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Suggestion

• When people conflict with ideas, beliefs or
  strategies its helpful to turn assumptions
  around to enter into what if scenarios.
• ASSUMPTION Volunteers are a special breed of
  people with a distinct and unique motivation,
  personality and set of values. They are the
  elite of those willing to help others, without
  having to be paid.
• But WHAT IF they assume instead that
  everyone is a volunteer in some basic sense,
  though not everyone does it in our preferred way(
  joining Kin) How would that impact Kins approach
  to recruiting? Its possible it could broaden
  the diversity of the people sought, opening a new
  target market or two?

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Keep in mind

• Assumptions will determine how we interact with
  the world around us for example,
• in the scenario of Johnny and the teacher. The
  teacher would likely alter her interaction with
  Johnny and would work differently with him from
  the time she had no opinion to the time she made
  up her mind that he is a bad child.
• The result Johnny wont be given the chance to
  live up to his full potential.

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Basic values are essentially assumptions

• They are hard to "prove" one way or another. They
  contribute heavily in the way we choose to live,
  and what we choose to do.
• Lets consider the differences between the
  behaviour of people who believe
• ... money and material things are most important
  vs. the spirit, or spirituality of some form are
  more important.
• ... the "me first" theory of caring vs. taking
  care of others first.

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Embracing Change
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Embracing change

• Remember, people fear change because of the
  following reasons
• Lack of
• Communication no warning
• Information Details analysis
• Confidence under developed skills
• Involvement how does this affect me ?
• Someones agenda road blocks
• Time personal adjustment
• and good old PERCEPTIONS/ ASSUMPTIONS!!!!!

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How can we help others

• Embrace change
• Education learn about the positives
• Empathy recognize others may not be where you
  are provide reassurance and support
• Describe it positively make better, improve
• Plan give time for others to adapt
• Communicate !!!! And LISTEN - Interests, needs,
  concerns and clarify perceptions

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Power Struggles
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Difficult People - power struggles

• How do you actually define a difficult person? Is
  it a bully? Is it
• someone who's always aggressive
• someone who doesn't listen or continually rejects
  or hijacks your ideas
• or is it someone who's critical, impatient, and
  believes s/he is superior?

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Heres a fact

• When it comes to defining difficult people, it's
  completely subjective.
• You might be the only one in the club who doesn't
  get on with this person or you might be the only
  one who does

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What to do?

• Hoping that they are going to change and make
  your life easier actually makes you a victim to
  these people.
• Under these circumstances they are in control of
  the relationship, whether they know it or not.
• The bottom line is that you either choose to be a
  victim to their personalities and communication
  styles, or you can take charge of the
  relationships and manage them more effectively.

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What to do?

• The solution lies with you, not them. Changing
  what you do, what you say and how you say it, you
  will create changes in the other person. Even
  if you don't always get what you want, you will
  be driving what happens between the two of you,
  not them. Not so difficult really!?

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In conclusion

• Assumptions can change
• People and circumstances change
• More information might become available helping
  to distinguish between facts and opinions
• Role playing positively assumed scenarios can
  identify areas needing attention or protection
  opportunity to ensure those who are wary about
  change become more comfortable with moving
  forward.
• In general one should never ASSUME ( we all know
  the expression) Unless of course its done
  conscientiously and in a positive manner as
  suggested.

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Id like to leave you with these two thoughts

• The quality of our lives depends not on whether
  or not we have conflicts, but on how we respond
  to them. Thomas Crum, Author
• "If we cannot talk together, we cannot work
  together...interaction must not only create
  agreements...it must also use the conflict to
  help fuel the discovery of new insights and
  sustainable learning." William Issacs, author of
  Dialogue and the Art of Thinking Together