Currently I am not experiencing any conflicts within my work place but can remember alt least one occasion when I have. There was a particular intern, who is no longer at the agency, who I struggled with when it came to communicating. This intern was designated a small caseload of clients, however I was the assigned clinician. I found that the intern would not communicate pertinent information involving the case. At first I thought that somehow she did not understand what information should be communicated or perhaps she was not used to working as a team. I discussed with her why we work as a team within the agency and how we must communicate with each other regarding the clients we serve. Following this conversation, there was a major incident where particular protocol was to be followed. However, once again she withheld information that needed to be made aware within our team. Since she was an intern, it was not as difficult to solve this challenge. She was given less responsibility and eventually the internship ended.
One communication conflict strategy that I learned is to share knowledge of education so that people can meet needs and expectations. I could have put more effort in to teaching this intern about the importance of communication and collaboration when working with others who also serve as supports for the clients. As well, I could have done more by helping her understand what types of information needs to be shared and documented accordingly.
Another strategy that I could have used is creating a more balanced atmosphere which would lead to open communication on an equal level. As an intern she may have felt less power in the situation and perhaps unsure of how to communicate within that role.
I believe that these strategies from the 3 R's could be applied to this conflict. Learning about conflict resolution in communication has helped me understand mistakes I have made in the past that led to negative outcomes. I will apply the skills I have learned in the future in attempt to avoid conflicts in communication.
Leon'e,
ReplyDeleteI like your strategy of teaching the intern about the importance of sharing information and working collaboratively within the group. Maybe it would have been useful for her to know and understand that others are more likely to treat you the way you treat them, so if she shares information with them they will also share information with her. I encountered this scenario in my workplace where the senior staff were not as trusted by the supporting staff because the senior staff were withholding more and more useful information from the supporting staff. Then the supporting staff did not feel inclined to seek out the senior staff to share information that they thought the senior staff would find useful and left it to them to discover it on their own. Wasted time and energy. If the senior staff were approached in a non-threatening way about the lack of collaborating, they may have chosen to help solve the problem.
Leon'e,
ReplyDeleteHow important is teamwork? There is no doubt that teamwork is becoming a must for productivity, effectiveness and success in all kinds of environment. My question is; "Why was that individual witholding information?" There wasn't anything to win or gain on her part she was just the intern. It still puzzles me why this was happening.
Anyway, the best teamwork usually comes from having a shared vision or goal, so that leaders and members are all committed to the same objectives and understand their roles in achieving those objectives.
Using the 3 R's would most definitely be appropriate with dealing with the issue.
I also find myself thinking about how I communicate and in what ways I can improve it. Self reflection is such an amazing tool for improving all aspects of life. Using the things we learned this week about nonviolent communication will help us in both our professional and personal lives.
ReplyDelete