Top 10 Manager Challenges (Part A – Managing Conflict)

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Top 10 Manager Challenges:

Here, we talk about the first five, all of which involve CONFLICT.
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  1. Firing people
  2. Disciplining people
  3. Showdown with the boss
  4. Being caught in the middle
  5. Peer conflicts
  6. Constant Change
  7. Baby-sitting
  8. Overload
  9. Red Tape – Needless Administration
  10. Personal fulfillment
Firing People:
  • Only the perverse enjoy this part of the job
  • Have a solid paper trail.  If you don’t have one – postpone the firing until you do*
  • Get good advice – HR or legal
  • Make the meeting short and to the point
  • Never fire someone in anger or on the spot
  • Do not put this off because it’s uncomfortable

Employee Discipline:

  • Have a process
  • Document every meeting
    • Formal or informal
    • Written or verbal
  • Make consequences clear in advance of disciplinary action
  • Have all the information at your disposal
  • Have a witness – preferably someone from HR or legal

Showdown with the Boss:

  • Insist on dealing with it in private
  • Never bad-mouth the boss
  • Consider whether s/he has a point
  • Don’t make idle threats
  • Reinforce that s/he is the boss, and you will ultimately do as they ask*
  • Choose your battles carefully
  • Move to resolution, not to perpetuate conflict

Being Caught in the Middle:

  • Tow the party line – even when you don’t agree
  • Explain the rationale as best you understand it
  • Do not blame by pointing up the hierarchy
  • Where appropriate act as a facilitator for a more favourable outcome
  • Be very clear with your people as to what is negotiable and what is not

Peer Conflicts:

  • Determine how important a peer relationship is to you, your department and your ability to be successful
  • Figure out what they need/want from you
  • Help them understand what you need/want from them, and why it is important
  • Escalate the problem only as a last resort

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