Throwback Thursday
A Manager's Worst Nightmare
Using DiSC Profiles to Minimize Conflict
A team that's disengaged and constantly bickering is a manager's worst nightmare. How do you get everyone on the same page? How do you get everyone using the same language and appreciating each other's differences? It can be really tough if you don't have the right resources.
A few years back, I posted a blog series dedicated to a disruptive team and how to use Everything DiSC Profiles to minimize the conflict, with specific blog posts designed for each of the DiSC styles. You can even use the script to act out the event during your next DiSC training program! It's a great icebreaker.
Halloween is right around the corner, and there is absolutely nothing scarier than working with people you don't like (or even worse, managing people that don't like each other). Enjoy this blog post, and contact us if you need help getting your team members on the same page!
Jonelle
SCENE
It's a busy Wednesday afternoon at ABC Technology, Inc. a mid-sized software
and IT company based in Philadelphia, PA. STEVE, a quiet, yet successful Sales
Manager, is walking down a long hallway to the coffee station when he overhears
a shouting match going on between two of his employees. He finds them and the
rest of his sales team in a nearby conference room.
STEVE
(Entering the conference room)
Woah! What’s going on here? What are you guys fighting
about? I could hear you from down the hall.
JEFFREY
(Walking over to STEVE)
We were originally discussing an idea that Marsha had come
up with, but she became irrational when we pointed out the flaws in her plan.
MARSHA
(Quickly standing up and pointing at JEFFREY)
I did not get irrational! That’s just like you, Jeff. You
cut me off when I’m speaking and don’t expect me to continue with my thought.
I hadn't even gotten halfway through saying my idea before Pete started tearing
it to shreds!
STEVE
(Turning to PETE, looking surprised)
Pete, is this true?
PETE
(Quiet, but stern)
Not entirely. You see, I was merely informing Marsha that
her idea needs much more fine tuning before being presented to the rest of the
group. For example, when she states…
MARSHA
(Becoming more frustrated)
See, Steve?! He’s doing it again. How am I supposed to be
creative, when I've got these guys pointing out every imperfection?
STEVE
(Turning to MARSHA)
Now Marsha…
JEFFREY
(Yelling)
Relax, Marsha! You’re being overly emotional.
STEVE
(Turning to JEFFREY)
Now Jeff… wait a second…
MARSHA
(Eyes watering. Fighting back tears.)
I am NOT being overly emotional, Jeff!
(MARSHA begins to cry and darts out of the conference room.)
STEVE
(Looking confused, STEVE turns to APRIL who is sitting quietly at the
conference room table.)
April, have you really been in here this whole time?
APRIL
Um… yeah. Should I… still be taking minutes?
Take a minute to
think about what you just read. Do you side with anyone in particular? Where
would you fit into this situation? Would you be battling it out like Jeff and
Marsha, or would you watch the war unfold like Pete and April?
The point of the
story is that, although dramatic, these situations can happen when varying
personalities work closely together on a daily basis. Even the most
effective groups will have the occasional conflicts and misunderstandings.
Whether you’re
approaching an important deadline, undergoing organizational changes or
bringing in a new employee, additional stress can mean more tension and more
conflict. It’s working through those difficult times that really prove your
group’s strength and your abilities as a manager.
Why does it matter?
Unnecessary disagreements can cause:
- Unhappy
employees
- Unspoken
resentment
- High
turnover
- Lower
productivity
- Smaller
bottom line!
What can you do to reduce conflict?
Understanding your team members is the first step to
reducing and resolving conflict within your group. The better you know your
group, the more you’ll be able to anticipate and avoid blow-ups like this or
hidden resentment from your team.
Once you understand your group, you will be able to:
- Create
an environment that encourages your staff to respect each other.
- Get
a good grasp of your team members’ priorities, interests and fears.
- Improve
your ability to recognize conflict.
- Learn
how to effectively resolve conflict.
- Offer
tips and techniques to employees on working together.
If you’re not utilizing
DiSC profiles within your organization, you are missing out on vital
information that will help you better understand your team’s strengths and
weaknesses. DiSC is a great way to find out more about your group in a fun,
comfortable atmosphere. Your team will learn more about themselves and how they
relate to each other, and you’ll learn how to effectively manage a team full of
varying behavioral styles.
This blog series will introduce you to each of the D, i, S and C styles and how they
influenced the characters’ behaviors in our story:
Download a copy of the script, and use it as an icebreaker with your group! Start a discussion
about conflict, personality differences and teamwork.
Remember: Working well with others is not about compromising who you
are but rather accepting others and adapting yourself to those around you. Start using DiSC profiles to create a common language among your team and start working more effectively together.
