Building Conflict Competent Teams / Edition 1

by Craig E. Runde

Overview

Understanding how to cool down, slow down, and engage the naturally occurring conflicts among team members is critical to the ultimate success of a team. Patrick Lencioni, author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, describes this book as, “…A comprehensive, thoroughly researched guide to the crucial and inevitable role conflict plays on a team.” By reading this book, teams and team members will gain a deeper understanding of how conflict emerges and how they can respond in ways that will leverage conflicts to their advantage. The importance of establishing a safe team climate, agreeing on processes to guide the team’s interactions and use of constructive communication skills are paramount for developing a conflict competent team.

Conflict is not to be avoided, but embraced and explored. This often results in new, previously unimagined opportunities, solutions and results. Stories, interviews, and examples provide entertaining and thought provoking insights throughout the book. One chapter is dedicated to techniques and processes for addressing team conflict that has gone awry. Runde and Flanagan also include useful tips and tools for assessing your team’s current state of conflict competence and suggestions for addressing the challenges of today’s virtual and geographically dispersed teams.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	2900470189473
Publication date:	06/23/2008
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

The Authors

CRAIG E. RUNDE is director of new program development at the Leadership Development Institute at Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida.

TIM A. FLANAGAN is director of custom programs at the Leadership Development Institute at Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

1. A Team in Conflict 1

2. Where Conflict Comes From, And Why It Is So Hard To Manage 19

3. Creating the Right Climate 43

4. Constructive Communication 75

5. Techniques for Staying on Track 119

6. Special Cases: Virtual and Global Teams 171

7. Getting Started on the Road to Conflict Competence 189

Epilogue 209

Resources 213

References 217

The Authors 225

Index 227

About the Center for Creative Leadership 235