Question

Two of your team members, Cynthia and Shelly, never seem to agree on anything. Their regular disagreements have become so frequent that it’s become a negative influence on your team’s ability to accomplish its work. Which action would be the least effective in helping Cynthia and Shelly work together more productively?

a. Discuss the causes and consequences of the disagreements between Cynthia and Shelly as an entire team.
b. As a team, ask Cynthia and Shelly to have a one-on-one meeting to work through their differences.
c. Encourage Cynthia and Shelly to listen to each other’s’ opinion to look for common ground before responding with their own opinions.
d. Use highly structured team meetings to allow open debate and discussions of the pros and cons of different project alternatives.

Answer 1

The least effective method in addressing team conflicts between Cynthia and Shelly would be having the entire team discuss their disagreements. (option a) Encouraging private dialogue, promoting a listening approach, and structured team meetings are more conducive to resolving conflicts.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Cynthia and Shelly, two team members, can't seem to agree on anything, impacting the team's productivity, the least effective solution is to have the entire team discuss the causes and consequences of their disagreements. This is because such a group discussion can be confrontational and may exacerbate tensions rather than resolve them. Instead, more constructive approaches would include:

• Encouraging Cynthia and Shelly to have a one-on-one meeting to work through their differences, fostering a private space for open dialogue without the pressure of the entire team.
• Encouraging them to listen to each other's opinions and search for common ground before responding, which can promote understanding and respect.
• Using highly structured team meetings, which allow everyone to openly debate and discussion in a controlled, respectful environment, laying ground for collaborative solutions.

These methods focus on effective communication, problem-solving, and creating an atmosphere for collaboration and can help to manage the conflict more effectively than a public team debate on personal differences.