Resolving Workplace Conflicts: General - Close-Mindedness (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 an employee refuses to consider other team member ideas, it may be because others' perspectives and contributions are not valued or respected. In team environments, close-mindedness is devastating to creative thought and continuous improvement efforts. Enthusiastic team members quickly become deflated and eventually cease to offer ideas and suggestions when disregarded or criticized. Supervision and management look bad when employee engagement is stifled in these situations. If forced to work embrace other recommendations, the individual may initially acquiesce, but then sabotage the effort. Allowed to persist, this behavior may lead to high performers quitting and ultimately impact the organization's ability to attract quality candidates for employment. A reputation for protecting non-performers and preventing engagement will have a long-term negative impact on the success of the organization.

With this tool you get the following:

•  The effects close-mindedness has on team members.
•  Considerations for why an individual demonstrates close-mindedness.
•  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.