Saying Goodbye to a Great Team

I can still remember my emotional struggle when I left my previous job.  I truly loved the Career Services Team at my previous job.  We loved, fought, and communicated like a family.  We were connected and often prayed together.  I felt as if I was leaving family, but I knew that I needed a change.  I decided to pursue other career opportunities because of the financial situation of the company and the need to advance within my career.  

We ranked highest in the company for career placement and worked very hard to get there.       We had established roles which allowed us to work and communicate with students within certain fields.  This allowed us to work as a team, but knew our responsibilities and goals within the team.  

We had going away parties as each person left.  I was the second to leave, but everything remained the same.  Parties and a photo album with all of us.  It was a bitter-sweet goodbye, but we still contact each other occasionally.  

I believe that it won't be difficult to adjourn from the group of my colleagues completing a master's degree.  I have a hard time building relationships with people that I don't speak to or socialize with. Although I have seen pictures of my fellow colleagues, I have not formed true relationships.  We will continue to be colleagues and work together on the projects we have.  

Resolving Conflict

Scenario:  

I work with multiple people of all ages and different cultural beliefs.  There is a communication barrier that has caused a great deal of conflict within the department.  We are now going through a program review based upon the results of many surveys.  Because we know the main reason behind the conflict is communication, I need to show people how to communicate effectively.  Therefore I have thought of 2 different strategic plans that could help with decreasing conflict.  

Strategy 1: 

3S Skills (Third Side Skills) https://thirdside.williamury.com/category/tools/3s-skills/

Seeing, listening, and speaking from the third side allows for everyone to look at the problem without any bias opinions, emotions, or any connections.  

• Seeing the situation and not being apart of the situation allows everyone to see both sides.  The website refers to everyone looking at the conflict from a balcony seat, as if you are watching a play (https://thirdside.williamury.com/category/tools/3s-skills/ ) 
• Listening with intent to resolve the problem is very important. There are many ways to listen, but we have to learn to listen without having a bias attitude or trying to find an argument point.  
• Speaking is a very important part of communication but so is remaining silent.  Silence is allowing everyone to give their point of view and communicate.  Using the right verbiage to ask questions can be one of the very few times to speak.   

Strategy 2: 

3R's (Respect, Response Relationship) 

No matter what the age, it is very important that we use the 3R strategy to communicate with people.  

• Respecting a person should be a way of life for anyone.  Treating people the way that you want to be treated will eliminate confusion, possible interruptions, and hopefully some rudeness.  This is a way of people on equal ground... no matter what their age, sex, or any other categories.  
• Response - knowing the people you are having a conflict with makes a difference and is apart of your response.  The responses you have to questions, concerns, or comments determines if you are approachable.  In my scenario, the people involved don't feel as if leadership is approachable.  This perception has been formed based upon previous responses to questions or concerns.  So teaching leadership how to respond to situations can help 
• Relationship building can decrease future conflict.  A relationship can link two or more people together.  It builds trust and shows that each person is able to communicate. Encouraging team building can help my coworkers to one day be able to communicate effectively

I left out plenty of details regarding the conflict due to confidentiality, but overall using the 2 strategies or a combination of the strategies will help my coworkers to understand and work effectively as a team.