Stress Reduction & Conflict ManagementUnit 3

Stress-Reduction Techniques

• Managers must ensure employee well-being and increase productivity, while at the same time balancing stress in the workplace• Remember, excessive workload and too many

hours at work are the leading causes of workplace stress.

Read: Creating a Family-Friendly Workplace

Highlights of Article…

• As mentioned in the above article, the following solutions are used to address work-life balance issues and the associated stress:• wellness programs,• meditation,• time-management training,• flexible work arrangements, • Child-care and elder-care services.

Conflict

• Conflict arises in the workplace when there is a disagreement between two or more people on a significant issue. • There are two types of conflicts which managers

must handle, substantive conflict and emotional conflict.

Two Types of Conflict

• Substantive conflict involves disagreement over goals and tasks. • Examples?

• Emotional conflict results from feelings of distrust, fear, anger, and resentment.• Examples?

Conflict Management Styles

• Managers respond to conflict through different combinations of cooperative and assertive behaviours. These combinations are labelled: competing, collaborating, compromising, avoiding, and accommodating. • Read Conflict Management Strategy Revealed.

Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument • Kenneth W. Thomas and Ralph H. Kilmann developed an

assessment tool known as the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument that helps individuals identify their preferred method of dealing with conflict. • You can view a sample TKI report at the Psychometrics

Canada Ltd. website. http://www.psychometrics.com/en-us/assessments/thomas-kilmann.htm

Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument

Practice• Assist Kate Delgado at ATOM Communication Agency as she

discovers the five different conflict management styles.

• Read the article entitled Conflict at Work.

Task

• Read the article Conflict in Workplace Teams - 5 Ways to Capitalize on Healthy Conflict and Make Better Decisions.• Briefly describe a situation where you experienced healthy

conflict that resulted in better decisions or a better outcome. This situation might be at work, at school, in a community group, sports team, or in your family.