Question

Stress and Conflict Management Discussion

For this assignment, make sure you post your initial response to the Discussion Area by the due date assigned.

Start reviewing and responding to the postings of your classmates as early in the week as possible. Respond to at least two of your classmates. Participate in the discussions (which are your peer responses) by providing a statement of clarification, providing a point of view with a rationale, challenging an aspect of the discussion, or by indicating a relationship between two or more lines of reasoning in the discussion. Your peer responses should follow APA format and include academic citations. Complete your participation for this assignment by the end of the week.

Please read the Stress and Conflict Scenario. Based on this scenario, please answer the following questions:

How will you address each area and improve understanding, collaboration, motivation, and positive attitude?

How does emotional intelligence play a role in encouraging the staff to cooperate and to be willing to make behavior changes?

What behavior theory will you research to develop your thoughts when you speak to each staff member?

How important is decreasing overall conflict in the workplace?

How can you develop a win-win approach?

Stress and Conflict Management Scenario

Conflict may occur in any work environment, whether it is in the clinical setting, another department, or another organization. It is important to understand how conflict arises and how conflict is managed through effective communication. The behavior of a leader has a direct impact on the motivation of his or her team. It is crucial for a leader to understand how his or her behavior and conflict-handling ability impact the care of patients. Here is a scenario of a leader who is willing to handle conflicts in his or her workplace. You are promoted to a management position in a small organization. There are four full-time members and three part-time members. You have a department manager currently overseeing the operations. You are excited to begin with your new assignment and have completed orientation. You heard some rumblings from the staff development team, "You have your work cut out for you in this department!" It does not sound promising, yet you are filled with energy, a positive attitude but a bit concerned as you do not want to appear bossy. You lack a bit of confidence since they are seasoned team members and you are new to the organization. Once you begin your first day, you decide to meet with everyone as a group and individually over the next few days. What you are uncovering is disturbing and you quickly realize that the team members have lots of conflicts within the department. In a nutshell, this is what you have discovered:

? The department manager thinks she is in charge since clients, customers, or patients have specialized needs. She is stern faced and does not seem to smile, yet she does not admit it is her or her department's fault if there is an error. She seems to enjoy the increasing conflict among the unit as it takes any "pressure" off her and she can continue to "tell people what to do."

? Two full-time administrative staff members do not like each other and refuse to work together. One feels the other cooks "strange food" and cannot understand her when she speaks, and she is too quiet. The other staff member feels the first one is too outspoken and not gracious and hurries through her assignments. They share a small office and their work is critical to the success of the organization as they oversee all billing, accounts payable and receivable, and schedule the large projects and services to other organizations. The rest of the staff members avoid going to this office as the tension is clearly increased in this room.

? The part-time staff feel they are not being offered any extra shifts and sometimes they are asked not to come to work if the day is slow. They feel they are not valued and are demotivated by less pay. This is a critical time for them due to the economy crisis. When they are at work, they often bring their home problems with them and seem stressed when they have to work with the other team members.

Answer 1

1) The Department Manager is responsible for the overall supervision of the unit. Her attitude towards sub ordinates will effect the work outcome of the staff. The department manger should be explained correctly about her job description. Though she is the in charge but she does not have to be bossy at all times. Motivate her telling she is managing the unit appropriately but she needs to approach her staff with patience and a smiling face. This will create a sense of belonging among the staff and would share their experiences with her freely.

The other two full time administrative staff who share a same office should be encourage formanaging the huge workload they have. With a soft voice explain to them that the achievement of the organizational goal uptill now was possible because of their joint efforts not ny a single person. Every people have different habits, some are quite while some are outspoken. Its the way they are but they are working to meet a common goal. So instead on focussing on shortcomings of others, take initiative to attain the target.

Home problems tend to bring stress in workplace when staff keeps on thinking about the issues at home. These issues maybe serious or a minor one. Being an administrator, I should offer them opportunity to express their grievances. Even though they work for short time duration their work is valuable and they should be motivated and appraised for their contribution towards the success of the organization.

2) Every staff expects there leader to be a soft spoken, a compassionate listener, one who trusts them, should be approachable and should make right decision.The use of this emotional intellectual skill will help to encourage the staff and to make behavior changes. If a leadership has the above stated quality them the staff will have faith in her and who be ready to function in way she wants them to.

3)Behavior psychology is the ability to clearly observe and measure other behavior. While speaking to each staff, I need to understand their behavior what calms them and what agitates them. I should be a good listener who would give them opportunity to express their feelings. I should have a pleasant face and should be calm while speaking. If any errors occur then one should try to trace the error causing agent and should deal it in a calm way.

4) Prevalence of conflict in workplace will effect the overall outcome of the unit. It will never create a healthy environment to work and goals remain unattained. The staff tend to waste their precious time in conflicts and that directly effects the work outcome. It will also hamper the decision making. Therefore its very crucial to decrease the work place conflicts.

5) A win-win approach can be developed by addressing each person's underlying needs rather than denying them. This will make them feel valued and respected. It will develop a sense of participation and cooperation. Moreover, my thoughts, feelings and opinions also needs to be expressed in direct, honest and appropriate way. Recognizing individual differences is also important.