I focused on chapter 7, 'Conflict' here.
I really agree with the idea that 'The challenge is not how to eliminate conflicts, but rather how to manage them in productive ways that strengthen bonds among team members' (Conflict104). I also emphasized with the example that "polite" meetings that ended with smiling face and discussions about "real" issues are discussed in rest room.
I have some experience like this. Even if we have a meetings and prepare to discuss something, team member just say 'I agree with that' and no one say 'I don't think it is good'. I think it is just wasting of time. The one reason of it is a hesitation that younger people cannot express their feelings to seniors. And I can accept the situation. What seniors should do is to make a good relationship with them, so this is not big problem. However, another reason of this situation is that people want to avoid the troublesome things, so they don't say their opinion. This situation may keep 'good relation' among them, but it does not make real relationship, because they just avoid to confront problems.
The book also said that 'There are several reasons why conflict, anger, and negative feelings needs to be dealt with directly and in small doses. First, conflict not expressed means that problems are not being confronted. Second, conflict not expressed directly surfaces in other, nonproductive ways'. As written here, conflict is nonproductive. Therefore, in my opinion, conflict is a good opportunity even though I feel uneasy when I face it.
In this book, a "family system models" was written. I understand that this is a way to make distance between people shorter. This approach will be helpful in the situation that people are uneasy to accept conflict.
In this chapter, I learned that the important thing is to make a team and system that people can confront a conflict and never avoid it. I thought it is related team work.
I really agree with the idea that 'The challenge is not how to eliminate conflicts, but rather how to manage them in productive ways that strengthen bonds among team members' (Conflict104). I also emphasized with the example that "polite" meetings that ended with smiling face and discussions about "real" issues are discussed in rest room.
I have some experience like this. Even if we have a meetings and prepare to discuss something, team member just say 'I agree with that' and no one say 'I don't think it is good'. I think it is just wasting of time. The one reason of it is a hesitation that younger people cannot express their feelings to seniors. And I can accept the situation. What seniors should do is to make a good relationship with them, so this is not big problem. However, another reason of this situation is that people want to avoid the troublesome things, so they don't say their opinion. This situation may keep 'good relation' among them, but it does not make real relationship, because they just avoid to confront problems.
The book also said that 'There are several reasons why conflict, anger, and negative feelings needs to be dealt with directly and in small doses. First, conflict not expressed means that problems are not being confronted. Second, conflict not expressed directly surfaces in other, nonproductive ways'. As written here, conflict is nonproductive. Therefore, in my opinion, conflict is a good opportunity even though I feel uneasy when I face it.
In this book, a "family system models" was written. I understand that this is a way to make distance between people shorter. This approach will be helpful in the situation that people are uneasy to accept conflict.
In this chapter, I learned that the important thing is to make a team and system that people can confront a conflict and never avoid it. I thought it is related team work.
Hi Yuki,
返信削除Thanks for reading so carefully the text and for summarizing it here. I too am particular fond of your opening quotation "The challenge is not how to eliminate conflicts, but rather how to manage them in productive ways that strengthen bonds among team members." Making this happen is quite a challenge, but it is a great goal.
Ken