A group of about eight woman who need to work together but have gotten into dividing themselves. They are causing the division, I believe, due to two or three people wanting total control. It is detrimental to the group and to the students they serve. Please send suggestions of where to begin.
The Team Doc Says.
The first thing you need to do is identify the behavior that is causing the division. Your assumption is that they want total control, but exactly what are they doing that makes you feel this way?
Once you’ve identified the behavior, you need to have discussions with each of these women to provide feedback on the impact of their behavior on the rest of the team. Use the “what and why” model. For example, “When you [exhibit this behavior - the what] it causes others to [impact of behavior - the why].”
They may not realize what they are doing is causing an issue. Or they may be doing it on purpose. But until you take the time to open a dialog and understand more about what it going on, all you have to go on is your assumptions.
It would be a good idea to plan your feedback discussions. You can use the conflict resolution process to help you prepare.
What do you think reader? Can you offer other suggestions?
About Denise O'Berry
When a certain team is divided, someone has to fix the division. Someone really has to lead and control the rest. It’s a bit difficult to manage conflicts among team members but if someone has the capacity to make everyone listen then surely proper distribution of tasks among team members would be easier.