Resolving Workplace Conflicts: General - Lack of Cooperation (PDF)

Conflict tends to have a negative connotation based on our experiences, but it does not have to be this way. When we seek to understand, we communicate that we care enough to work through difficult situations and determine how to make things better to reduce stress, promote communication and enhance teamwork.

When a lack of cooperation results in other team members not getting the information they need in order to fulfill their responsibilities, and when a team member neither pitches in when necessary nor is willing to offer recommendations and solutions to overcome challenges and obstacles, teamwork and productivity is negatively impacted. This lack of cooperation may come back to haunt the individual initially refusing to cooperate later when that individual needs assistance from the other team members at some point in the future. Additionally, loyalty to each other suffers when team members are not there to support and assist each other to succeed, and therefore, contribute to the success of the organization. Finally, unaddressed non-performance regarding a lack of cooperation reflects badly on supervision and management resulting is a loss of credibility and respect.

With this tool you get the following:

•  The effects a lack of cooperation has on team members.
•  Considerations for why an individual is demonstrating a lack of cooperation.
•  Numerous solutions for improvement.
•  Ideas for negotiating/adjusting solutions.
•  Potential barriers and ways to overcome them to achieve resolution.
•  Implementation timeframe.
•  Follow-up review commitments.

Additionally, we provide a blank, editable Conflict Resolution Worksheet and the Worksheet Guidelines providing a step-by-step process for addressing your own workplace conflicts.