Learning to serve with a variety of leaders.

_In this month’s blog, we’ll discuss inter-team conflict and how to resolve it. Conflict is something that every team experiences. The important thing is how you deal with it. Usually, people tend to try to ignore the problems. However, this can lead to resentment within the team. The most effective solution can be to confront the problem. Some conflicts can be resolved by asking the conflicted individuals to “talk it out.” If the argument is extremely heated from the start, then it is probably best to wait for a couple of days, but the problem will still need to be addressed later on. Addressing the problem and learning to compromise can be a great step towards a more unified team.

The first step in permanently resolving conflicts within your team is to ensure that you, as Chapter President, establish a positive environment in which every member of the team feels as if they are able to contribute their thoughts, ideas, and opinions without fear of excessive or harsh criticism. One especially effective method is to meet with your entire team to discuss your team's "code of conduct." Write down a couple of ground rules that will dictate how team members will treat one another, and establish a procedure that outlines what will happen if that code of conduct is broken. Some things you might want to include on your team's code of conduct are the following suggestions:

·         Treat each officer with the respect he/she is due. After all, they were elected to be an officer, just like you.

·         Do not interrupt officers while they are speaking, but rather, wait for each person to share their thoughts before    
       speaking.

·         Focus on giving constructive criticism.

·         Recognize that working with a team is a "give-and-take" process. Compromise is key.

·         If your team is deadlocked in heated debate, take a five-minute break so that everyone can collect their thoughts and
       cool off. Alternately, establish a procedure that will allow everyone a fair opportunity to speak their minds openly,
       without input from the others.

Something which is essential to keep in mind when working with a team is that your ideas are not always the best or most practical. Your peers are competent and will offer solutions to problems that may not occur to you. Give your teammates the courtesy of considering their ideas and truly attempting to find the best course of action. However, you and other members of your team may still disagree at times. In these cases, it is important to be fair and realize that you must be flexible before you can expect others to do so. If you show your teammates that you are willing to try some of their ideas, you will find that they give more consideration to your own ideas. Remember- compromise is the key to maintaining a healthy team.