Week 6 Assignment Homework

MGMT 592
Keller School of Management
Jarvis Johnson
Dr. Mary Welsh
December 4, 2015

General:

Chapter 16 gives us information about how to build on the skills of

interaction with others in leadership. This chapter gives six different skills to
focus on. Those six skills are: creating a compelling vision, managing conflict,
negotiation, diagnosing performance problems individuals, groups and
organizations, team building at the top, and punishment. Each trait/skill is
identified in detail throughout chapter 16.

My Skills:
One of the six skills I feel that could benefit me learning how to
manage conflict amongst a team. In the section that describes managing
conflicts, the author defines conflict as an action that occurs between two
parties when they have opposing interest or goals that appear to be
incompatible. This can be present team, committee, work group or
organizational settings. The chapter not only defines and gives examples of
managing conflict, but it also describes ways to handle conflict.

Limitations:
Based on my experience as manager, I believe learning how to handle
conflict and to manage them could help me in the near future. We all have
had experienced conflict in some form of fashion. Some of it has been
handled correctly, while some of it has not. But this chapter has helped me
determine more than one way to manage conflict. As a manager and a fellow
associate in both my full time and part time position, I can definitely attest to
poorly handling conflict. I usually can take business as a personal feeling and
not understand how to distinguish the difference between the two.

One example of such is when I was working on a project with a team at

my full-time position. During our meetings, we all conjured many great ideas.
My co-worker felt that his idea would make perfect sense compared to
someone elses idea. However, it did not get voted for. He felt that he was
being voted out of the group and that my ideas did not work out. I did not
know any ways to work or suggest to handle conflict. The only option was to
vote and let majority rule. What could I have done to help make this conflict
go over easier?

Opportunities:
In my opinion and after reading this chapter, I believe knowing how to manage conflict in
a business/group setting will help me become a better leader and follower in the long run.
Chapter 16 describes numerous ways on how to handle conflict. The chapter names four conflict
resolution strategies. One of those strategies is through sharing. The chapter states that instead of
using a competition or avoidance method to handle conflict, a leader could compromise with
both parties. For example, both parties can give up something, yet they both get something in
return. This method leaves both parties even and satisfied moderately and incompletely.

Next Steps:
Currently, I am a facilitator of a group of 7 people working on a team project. We have
had issues within our group when new ideas have been presented but on different sides. I commit
to using one of the four resolution strategies to handle conflict within our group. I will now be
able to identify the situation and will be able to use sound judgment to determine which type of
strategy would work best in that situation. This will help our meeting and group work go
smoother instead of us wondering which idea we would use.

Refection and Action:

In conclusion, chapter 16, has equipped me with necessary skills
needed to enable better communication on my team and throughout my
leadership career. Throughout my professional and school career, I was
taught competition is the way to handle conflict, but now that I know three
more ways to do so, I am able to utilize them effectively and become a
better leader in the process of doing so.