Conflict Resolution for Leaders 110

accountability

The state of being answerable or responsible for one’s own actions and decisions. Accountability involves taking ownership for one’s choices, including acknowledging mistakes.

addressing

A conflict response that seeks to deal with the conflict openly. Addressing a conflict leads to effective resolutions.

affective conflicts

A type of conflict related to emotions and interpersonal relationships. Affective conflicts occur over challenges like poor communication and jealousy.

attacking

A conflict response that involves criticizing another person rather than the problem. Attacking can occur face-to-face or behind the other party’s back.

authoritarian contests

A type of contest in which those involved in a conflict turn to an outside party to judge a winner. Authoritarian contests can lead to resentment toward both the winning party and the authoritarian figure.

background

The total of an individual’s personal experiences, knowledge, and education. A person’s background is influenced by factors like their age, race, culture, and health.

blame

The state of being responsible for a fault, problem, or error. In conflicts, high emotional involvement can lead to blame being inappropriately placed onto one party by another.

cognitive conflicts

A type of conflict related to task-oriented jobs. Cognitive conflicts occur over challenges like resource scarcity and quality defects.

communication styles

The way an individual expresses themselves when they talk or interact with others. Communication styles can be direct or indirect.

competition

The result of two or more individuals striving to obtain a goal or outcome that cannot be shared. Competition in the workplace may center around promotions or performance recognition.

concealing

A conflict response that involves trying to hide and ignore a conflict, usually in the hope that it will go away. Concealing does not directly make a conflict worse but will not solve it either.

concede

To yield or admit defeat under pressure. When a person concedes, they admit their opponent’s beliefs or wants are true or acceptable, regardless of whether they agree with those beliefs or wants.

confidential

The state of being kept secret. Confidential information should never be shared with unauthorized individuals.

contests

A conflict in which one party wins while the other loses. Contests lead to resentment between parties that can escalate to further problems.

culture

The shared values, beliefs, customs, and behaviors of a particular group. Culture cannot be inherited because it is transmitted from generation to generation through learning and social interaction.

defects

An imperfection in a part that prevents it from operating correctly. Defects can lead to reworked or scrapped parts, which increase the costs of a manufacturing operation.

direct communication

A type of communication that uses language to deliver a message. Direct communication includes talking face-to-face or through written text.

directly adversarial contest

A type of contest in which one group is pitted directly against another group. Directly adversarial contests emphasize rivalry and opposition between parties.

disabilities

A condition that impacts an individual’s ability to perform certain tasks. Disabilities may be observable, such as an amputated limb or paralysis, or invisible, such as a mental illness or medical condition.

distance

The act of giving parties in conflict something different to concentrate or work on, allowing them to withdraw from the conflict itself. Distance gives those involved the chance to calm down and reflect on the conflict.

escalation

An increase in intensity. Conflict escalation occurs for many reasons, including miscommunication or personal differences.

forecast

A prediction of demand patterns for a product, which is used to calculate future inventory levels. A forecast typically results in more accurate estimates when ordering raw material and other supplies.

gender

The roles, behaviors, and identities associated with being male, female, both, or neither. Gender is influenced by social interactions and the way an individual interacts within society.

indirect communication

A type of communication that uses cues via body language to deliver a message. Indirect communication includes facial expressions and body gestures.

integration

The process of installing and incorporating equipment into a manufacturing process. Integration includes planning, installing, and engineering equipment.

interdependence

The reliance of individuals on one another. Interdependence is a necessary part of many manufacturing processes, but it can lead to workplace conflicts.

interpersonal

Existing, relating to, or involving relations between people. Interpersonal conflicts can arise from differences in opinions, values, or work styles.

jargon

A word or expression used by a particular profession or group. Jargon includes any technical terminology that is difficult to understand without specialized knowledge.

job security

The likelihood that an employee will keep their job without the risk of becoming unemployed. Concerns about job security can influence workplace behavior and attitudes toward change.

machinist

A person who operates a machine to create a part. A machinist is responsible for ensuring the machine performs its job correctly, efficiently, and safely.

mediators

A third party who assists with conflict resolution. In manufacturing settings, mediators are often supervisors.

miscommunication

The failure to clearly or correctly deliver information. There are many reasons why miscommunication occurs, including cultural or lingual differences, a lack of attention, or ambiguous use of language.

multitasking

To perform more than one task at a time. Multitasking is easier for people who can divide their attention, but it can result in more errors and therefore wasted time.

negotiation

The act of communicating between disagreeing parties with the intent of permanently resolving a conflict. To effectively negotiate conflict resolution, all parties must feel that the resolution is acceptable and fair.

procurement

The department within an organization that is responsible for acquiring parts, materials, supplies, and services needed to manufacture products. Procurement professionals select suppliers and negotiate contracts with them.

reflect

To respond to a person by restating what was heard and understood to the best of the listener’s capabilities. Reflecting what a speaker said back to them clarifies how much of the intended message was understood correctly, or else it brings awareness to ideas that were miscommunicated.

resolutions

The end or elimination of a conflict. Resolutions are reached by identifying the involved parties, understanding the beliefs that caused the conflict, allowing each side to share perspectives, and asking for preferred approaches to solving the problem.

resource scarcity

An imbalance where the demand for resources is greater than the available supply. Resource scarcity can lead to increased costs and production delays.

rivalry

A state of competition between two or more parties who are striving to reach the same goal or objective. Rivalry typically involves a desire to defeat or outperform another party.

safety

The condition of being protected from danger, risk, or injury. Supervisors should ensure all parties’ safety before attempting to initiate conflict resolution.

scrapping

To discard or dispose of unusable material. Scrapping parts is required when they do not meet specifications.

separation

The act of removing parties in conflict from the conflict itself. Separation means creating physical space between those in conflict.

sheet metal

A flat metal stock that is no greater than 0.25 inches (0.64 centimeters) thick. Sheet metal is often sheared, bent, or drawn.

supplier

An organization that provides materials or parts to manufacturing companies. A supplier passes products on to the manufacturer, where they are then processed and delivered to the customer.

troubleshooting

A systematic, standardized approach to solving problems quickly and efficiently. Troubleshooting focuses on identifying the root cause of a problem and eliminating that cause to create a permanent solution.

urgency

The feeling that something needs immediate attention or action. A strong sense of urgency can drive productivity but may also cause stress.

verbal

Using the spoken word as a medium to deliver a message. Verbal communication includes talking face-to-face, on a telephone, or as a speech.

withholding

To hold back or refuse to give something. A person may withhold in order to force their opposition to concede.

work styles

The behaviors and attitudes an individual applies to the workplace and work-related tasks. Work styles describe how employees approach tasks, such as whether they complete a task step-by-step to completion before moving on or multitask on several projects at once.

workplace conflict

A disagreement or argument between individuals who work together. Workplace conflicts are either cognitive or affective.