Paul PelletierProject management key note speaker, author, corporate lawyer, and executive| Paul Pelletier Consulting Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
How can Ethics help you to solve a conflict in your team?
Here are some ideas:
You can use the PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct as a Guide:
- Respect:
Show respect to both sides of the conflict, listen to them and provide feedback to ensure you understand all perspectives.
- Responsibility:
Take responsibility for the conflict, tell the team you will take action to resolve it (and take action).
- Honesty:
Be honest with both sides, a conflict involves emotions, misunderstandings and facts. Try to bring everyone to begin to appreciate their differing viewpoints. If you think someone is being unreasonable or has misinterpreted the situation, then say so. Remember that there are often multiple solution options - compromises that provide wins for everyone are often the most successful solutions.
- Fairness:
Even if there seems to be one side or person who has acted inappropriately or whose understanding of the problem is wrong, all parties will likely be emotional. So be fair by acknowledging their feelings. Most often both sides did something wrong or have contributed to the problem (or there would be no conflict). Be fair to hold each party accountable for their contribution. Try to find a solution that is fair for everyone.
As project managers, we have a helpful Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct to help us manage challenging problems. We also have the Ethical Decision-Making Framework - a very useful tool to use when confronted with conflicts that might involved ethical dilemmas.
Frank GormanPresident and CEO| Frank J Gorman Consulting LLCCollegeville, Pa, United States
The answer is be a leader. Use the Code, tool kit or EDMF, whichever is helpful to you in gain control of the situation.
First and foremost, you have to be a leader. Some conflicts are unresolveable (just look at American Circus - oops, I mean American Politics) So my contribution is addressing what to do when the conflict can not be resolved. Technical issues can be compromised. Personality issues frequently can not be compromised.
Remind the parties of their obligations under the Code. Point out that the team and its objectives come first. They must find a way to work together or you, as the leader, must create a way for them to work together. That way may be to segregate the combatants. Another way is to praise any collaborative successes they may have, even if it is merely meeting a minor objective. Place yourself in the Code and ensure yourself that your solutions do not violate the Code. Take responsibility for success and respect that there are differences that must be accomodated Saving Changes...
John Caron, MBA, PMP, CSMVP - Technology Project Solutions Consultant| Bank of AmericaJacksonville, Fl, United States
I too agree with Sergio as often, issues will be aligned to the corporations culture. I will add an addendum. The very first time I read the PMI PMBOOK ethics, I said to self, "Is this not common senses"? If truly common sense of all, we would not need laws, yes, I understand. I do deem that common sense in the pure honest manner is your best ethical tool belt. Saving Changes...
