Dealing with Team Conflict: Personal Experiences

Conflict, sometimes conflict can be a good thing. It will ad in discussion for problem solving. Conflict can help to illustrate a point of view, or a new method in accomplishing a task. However, for the most part people try to avoid conflict; traditionally passions run high, and undesired reactions, either spoken or physical, can cause lasting damage and possibly loss of ...

Respect, honor, position, wealth, friends, relationships, and maybe even life; all can be lost because of conflict. Team conflict may cost business money first off, with wasted time, and possibly larger amounts of money with law-suits if the conflict escalates to dangerous levels. It is important to catch conflicts before they become a danger to those involved and those caught in the collateral damages.

While attending Pueblo Community College (PCC), I was hand picked for a special cooperative education course that allowed real life experience with college credit. Each member of the group brought a 'specialty' to the group; two web designers, two graphic designers, a traditional artist, and a jack-of-trades. I was the jack-of-trades, being familiar with web design, graphic design, traditional art, photography, and business management. Our task was to design a new website for a local company. Our time-frame was one semester starting in September, ending in December.

We met twice a week as a group to discuss the project. We had visited the company to capture photographic images and discuss the business for 'about business' sections of the website. We had also discussed possible colour schemes and other items needed for the website. We all worked together with one student standing out; doing more work than was asked of him and moving forward without the group. The group was virtually self-run, however we did have a mediator (instructor) if need be, and they were also the ones in more direct contact with the client; relaying any small messages.

Midway through the project I felt the single student was taking over the project and not accepting any other member's suggestions. I brought this up in front of the group; however, the group felt everything was fine. I felt the group was lazy and just riding the back of the other student; taking credit for work they didn't perform, so they didn't have to. I continued to raise the issue several times over the next week with no success. I than raised my issue with the mediator, and stated I will not put my name on the project I had nothing to do with.

By this time the student had designed his own logo and webpage alone and felt any thing said negative about 'his' project was to be forcefully defended by words. I discussed the issue at length with the mediator, and also the department chair. The group than had a meeting with the mediator and the chair without my presents or knowledge and decided I was the bad apple and I was to be removed from the project. So I left the project and completed a different project of the same nature within the remaining time allotted.

I later heard, that while conducting the preview with the client, the student from the group told the client they where wrong, and that his design is what they needed. Needless to say, for me personally, leaving that group is a very good thing. In business you never tell a client they are wrong. I chuckled to myself, but didn't inquire more of their fate.

In this past scenario, the entire group was at fault. They knew the single student was doing all the work; choose to accept credit for the work. They wanted to take the easy way out, and in my personal view lost their strongest member by doing so. In a group effort one person can not accomplish everything, they have to understand it is a 'group' effort and everyone is there for a reason. However, this group did not have the experience or knowledge to perform as a group and I am sure they failure was a reminder of that.

Another experience I had was while working at a larger retail business. I was on the night receiving team; a group of about 20 members. I was new, and trying to learn my way around, however, to this day I do not know what happen or why, but one of the other employees became angry with me. I don't even believe I worked near this employee, but they became physically violent to the merchandise. He would destroy the merchandise by punching and throwing it. I was spoken to after a couple nights like that and told I was the problem and I had to be let go.

I never understood why the wanted to keep a violent employee who destroyed merchandise; over someone who wasn't and didn't. However, because of the closeness of the group before I started, they kept the person they knew over the person they didn't, even though of his faults. That is my theory anyway; and could this conflict have been resolved? I am sure if the time was taken to find out why the conflict was there in the first place and what started it; with the use of a mediator things could have been worked out. Like I stated, I never knew the exact reason, just that one day he decided he didn't like me.

I believe one always needs to follow their principles, even if it takes them off of a group or team. Accepting credit for someone else's work is morally wrong to me; taking credit for mediocre work is plain ignorant as well. Being the odd man out, one has to work harder to build trust with the rest of the group. Sometimes, things are done to get rid of you, and if possible one has to measure the benefit of staying with the group as apposed to what happens when you leave. Working in a group is just like being the member of a family; good times and bad times will happen. But the bottom line is, everyone working together to accomplish a common goal and if there happens to be a conflict that cannot be solved; it is ok to leave the group.