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Conflict Resolution

From Good to Great, the first step necessary for leaders to transform a team is to listen. Some leaders’ contend, the logical first step to develop or transform a team begins with outlining the mission, stating the goals, and emphasizing the desired outcome. However, those leaders who have “transformed teams from performing well to great” have found it necessary to first acquire the right team members, and then determine the direction of the desired outcome.

Team leaders play the role of an individual who promotes cohesion and interpersonal communication amongst each member of the team. Leaders in teams also have the responsibility of ensuring positive interaction and structure for project completion. “Successful team leaders are unprejudiced, resourceful, feedback-oriented, and superior team builders. Security, stability, credit for accomplishments, realistic expectations, appreciation, team support are all motivating factors for the Stabilizer/Conceptual leadership style.

A role of a team leader is to guide a team in which all everyone maintains a focus and discipline. This includes reviewing the mission, stating the goals, and emphasizing the desired outcome. Lee Iacocca, who is famous for leading Chrysler Corporation from sure bankruptcy, lost his focus and discipline. He lost sight of the mission and eventually Chrysler Corporation was on the verge of a highly “undisciplined diversification. Leaders are often facilitators.  More specifically, Leaders of Action-Learning Teams must learn to guide—rather than control—the energy of the group to achieve results.

The strategic objectives for a virtual team, reflects a process whereby each member participates in the development of the team’s shared vision. The vision statement is paramount to the success of any project because all end results and outcomes must tie into the agreed decisions to meet or exceed expectations for personal and collective goals. Team synergy revolves around support for each other professionally and personally.

Revolving task assignments 

To help avoid come conflict, the team shares all task assignments, and constantly revolve the task assignments during the life cycle of a given project. The main roles that each member plays in the team are: facilitator, researcher, writer, organizer, and quality assurance. Each team member assumes a different role depending upon the type of task and the match of their individual skills. This flexible role assignment creates the maximum capability and is done openly to preclude misunderstanding that could lead to disaffected team members and morale issues. Trust is the key to this flexible approach to successful execution of tasks and outcomes that benefit all.