Tom Place

Where people exist, conflict exists. When you hear the phrase “workplace conflict” you might imagine the most passive-aggressive, or even just … aggressive situations that can arise between team members. Images of disgruntled employees gossiping with one another about a particular employee, or even a yelling match may come to mind.

Although situations like that aren’t uncommon, it’s important to remember that “conflict” can float under the radar, and fester in places that you may not even notice as a leader. Individual conflicts can come and go, negatively affecting your workplace culture without you ever seeing it happen.

Think about what your "workplace" looked like before the COVID pandemic. Did it look ANYTHING like how it does now?

If your organization is like most, the answer to that question is likely "no".

When it comes to where employees get work done, how they communicate, and what the typical workday entails, there have been monumental shifts in many companies across most industries. 

This shift presents a unique set of challenges:

1. Many employees are on different schedules
2. Not all team members can communicate fully face-to-face
3. It's difficult to convey tone and emotion using many remote communication channels that are being used more and more

It's crucial for you as a business leader to find ways to overcome these challenges, and keep your remote or hybrid team communicating clearly and effectively

Fortunately, there are some simple tools and strategies you can use to improve your team communication despite these challenges. 

There have been many inflection points in human history which have required businesses (and people) to change the way they operate.

A good place to start when trying to formulate how to grow your business during a time of change, is to look into the past

All of the following examples can be explained with the same thesis:

"Every instance of societal change opens doors that didn't exist before."

Take the Plague of the 1340's: Laborers were able to charge more for their work, the Feudal System collapsed, and the rise of "Humanism" took place.

Some of your employees may have already been working from home before COVID-19, and feel like not a lot has changed in their day-to-day now that your company has shifted to remote work.

At the same time there are probably others who are experiencing a remote workplace for the first time, and are still adjusting to this "new normal" (I wanted to get that over-used term out-of-the way, I promise not to use it again.)

Conflicts happen in every workplace. They can start with a simple disagreement and often escalate into an argument that impedes the productivity of a team.

Although conflicts themselves are common – effective resolution of those conflicts tends not to be. Even though it may not always be possible to avoid conflict completely, It’s important to be able to recognize common causes of workplace conflict to help stifle them early on.

When it comes to communication between a manager and their team, there is always room for improvement. Improving workplace communication across your organization should be a goal for every business leader, and one that brings increased productivity to your team. When it comes to being a manager, having the ability to communicate effectively is one of the most important skills to have. 

Billionaire businessman Warren Buffet told a classroom of business students that being an effective communicator doubles your value in the workplace. Buffet said that he would give $100,000 to any student in the room in exchange for 10 percent of their future earnings. And if the student was an effective communicator, he would increase the bid by 50 percent because the investment had more value.

As you know, there is a huge difference between telling someone what to do and actually empowering them with the skills and tools needed to do it. Would you expect someone would be able to bowl without a ball or being shown how to do it?

It’s obvious that coaching is important. But how are you supposed to fit coaching into your busy schedule as a manager? How do you make sure that your team members receive a level of coaching that is both personal and drives results?

Managers with well-developed coaching skills are able to ask the right questions, steer people in the right direction, and keep their team encouraged and driven to achieve a specific goal.

Have you ever promoted someone to be a manager, only to find out that they can hardly even manage themselves?

This is a common problem across industries, and leads to issues such as disorganization, unmotivated team members, poor workplace communication, and lack of dedication to a common goal. Succession planning is crucial in achieving growth, and ensuring that your management team is the best it can be. Follow along with this guide, to re-vamp the way you promote your high performers. 

Why to Delegate

Most leadership roles involve a variety of tasks that — simply put — cannot all be completed by one person. Sometimes leaders feel they must take up the reins of all of these tasks themselves to ensure they are done properly.

On the contrary, delegating some of these tasks to employees can improve task efficiency and benefit the organization in ways that aren't obvious at first. A study by Harvard Business Review determined that delegating can actually increase the income and overall efficiency of organizations. Not only does delegating empower others in the organization, it helps optimize the performance of the group. The more members who are included in the ownership of projects, the more efficient your organization will become.

Don’t know where to begin? Let's walk through delegating from start to finish. Feel free to download the delegating template to help you follow along with this blog.