Change and conflict often go hand-in-hand
Change and conflict often go hand-in-hand. Briefly discuss a difficult change workplace experience and describe the conflict that took place as a part of this change.
According to the readings, what did you (or a team leader) do right and/or wrong to lead the organization through this change/conflict?
Applying the readings and especially the podcast, what could have been done to improve the change process?
What was a key takeaway (or an “aha”) from the podcast that you can apply in your life?
Sample Solution
I recently experienced a difficult change in the workplace when my team was asked to shift from building software programs for our clients to offering more of an advisory service. This transition was a challenging one for many of us, as it required us to adjust our work processes and think about our projects differently. The change caused immediate conflict between members of the team who felt uncertain about this new direction and wanted to continue with the familiar programming roles they were accustomed to. Some viewed this transition as unnecessary and resisted actively engaging in the necessary tasks required for successful implementation, while others embraced it wholeheartedly and assumed the role of “change agents” within their teams. A key factor that led to further conflict during this change process was poor communication between management and staff. Team leaders failed to provide clear instructions on expectations during different stages or regularly update staff on progress being made which led to confusion over what needed to be done or how decisions were being made at higher levels. This lack of clarity in communication resulted in misunderstandings among staff due to different interpretations of what was expected from them or why certain changes had been implemented which ultimately hindered progress towards achieving success with this workplace transformation.
One difficult change workplace experience I had was when there were changes in the department that I worked with. This meant that certain roles and responsibilities within the team had to be shifted and changed, creating a tense atmosphere amongst colleagues. During this time, conflicting opinions emerged on how to best divide tasks, who should take on what responsibilities, and how quickly the transition should happen.
