Question

Assume the role of a senior level executive in your organization. There has been increased tension between departments due to organization wide changes brought about by a recent merger. Department heads are not getting along and are behaving in a territorial manner to protect their department’s best interests.

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Questions

As a leader in your organization, how can you use your conflict management skills to bring about positive outcomes in this situation?

How can your leadership skill assist you in bringing about a peaceful resolution in the conflict and negotiation process in a way that benefits all departments?

Answer 1

There has been a recent merger in the organization, which has,perhaps, increased the responsibilities of the employees and has definitely changed many things related to how the things used to be done. Since change is never appreciated, there has been increasing tension in the organization and especially between the departments. Not only the employees are retaliating, who stand low in the organizational hierarchy, but also the departmental heads are not appreciating the changes.

Now, as a leader, my main focus will not be on the problem but on the root cause of the problem. Since employees are having problem with the new changes in the organization, I will, first of all, see if those changes are indispensable. If they are not, I will try to not bring those changes. However, if those changes are important, I will try to talk it through with the employees. I will explain why those changes are necessary and will try to find out how those new things will prove to be beneficial for all the employees. If employees are still not satisfied, I will compensate them for something bigger because retaining those existing employees and building the trust among them should be the priority. Finally, I'll also try to take advice from all the employees related to how they propose the things to go on. If I feel that any of those advises are worth incorporating in the firm, I will do that.

Now the next question is how the leadership skills will help in bring peace and during the negotiations which will aim at helping all the departments. Well, leader is someone whom people can look up to. So, my leadership skills will help people in trusting me. It will build faith among the people that if I am bringing new changes or if there are changes due to the new merger, I am someone they can trust and know that I'll always take decisions which are for betterment for all. This will bring the peace back in to the office. As far as negotiation skills are concerned, my leadership skills will bring my offer in light and will help in dominating when the offer is made. The leadership skills will help me keep my ideas forward and will allow the other party to accept the offer I have to make easily in my favor.