Teamwork & Conflict

Resolution
Leaders Training @ FOCUS
Centre, Kasarani

Session Outline
Understanding Teamwork and Conflict
Difference Between Teams and Groups
What the Bible Says about Teamwork and
Conflict
Stages of Team Development
Sources of Conflict in the CU
How to Resolve Conflicts
Benefits of Teamwork
Characteristics of Highly Performing Teams

WHAT IS TEAMWORK?
(Websters Dictionary) Teamwork is a joint action
by a group of people, in which each person
subordinates his or her individual interests and
opinions to the unity and efficiency of the group.

WHAT IS CONFLICT?
We define conflict as a disagreement through
which the parties involved perceive a threat to
their needs, interests or concerns.

Difference between a Group/Team

A GROUP

A TEAM

A group is a collection of
individuals who coordinate
their individual efforts.

A team is a group of people who

share a common team purpose and
a number of challenging goals

Focus on individual goals

Focus on team goals

Produce individual work

products

Produce collective work products

Concern with one's own

outcome and challenges

Concern with outcomes of everyone

and challenges the team faces

A GROUP
Purpose, goals, approach to
work shaped by leader
Group building can literally
take only a few minutes

A TEAM
Purpose, goals, approach to work
shaped by team leader with team
members
Team building can take years

Groups dont necessarily have Teams are formed with intent, a goal
a
or a
goal or an objective
mission
A team member's absence can
Individual members of a group seriously hamper the abilities of
often have the ability to walk
other team members to perform
away from the group when
effectively, so it is not uncommon for
their services or input become individual members to form an
unnecessary.
exceptionally strong allegiance to
the team as a whole.

A GROUP
Within a group, each individual is
preoccupied with his/her own task
and little is known or understood
about the tasks of the other group
members

A TEAM

Within a group, when conflicts arise,

the members are often quick to point
the finger at other members, and
expect the leader to resolve the
situation

Within teams, the members feel a bond with each

other and take responsibility for the collaboration.
Instead of talking about each other, they talk with
each other, and the leader is only called in if
conflicts threaten to escalate

In a group, members think they are

grouped together for administrative
purposes only. Individuals
sometimes cross purpose with
others.

In a team, members recognise their independence

and understand both personal and team goals are
best accomplished with mutual support. Time is not
wasted struggling over "Turf" or attempting
personal gain at the expense of others.

In a group, members tend to focus

on themselves because they are not
sufficiently involved in planning the
group's objectives.

In a team, members feel a sense of ownership for

their tasks and unit, because they are committed to
values-based common goals that they helped
establish.

Within teams, the members are aware that

everyone contributes to the end result and that
acquiring insight into each others tasks can lead to
even better results

Team members have:

A common purpose and clear goals

The necessary skills and resources
A common approach to work
The willingness to share information
Trust and support in each other
The ability to work through conflict
The willingness to take responsibility for team
actions

What the Bible Says

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV)
(9) Two are better than one, because they have a
good return for their labor: (10) If either of them
falls down, one can help the other up. But pity
anyone who falls and has no one to help them
up. (11) Also, if two lie down together, they will
keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
(12) Though one may be overpowered, two can
defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not
quickly broken.

What the Bible Says

Philippians 2:2-8 (NIV)
(2) Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any
comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and
compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same
love, being one in spirit and of one mind. (3) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain
conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, (4) not looking to your own
interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
(5) In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: (6_
Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be
used to his own advantage; (7) rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very
nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. (8) And being found in
appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death even
death on a cross!
(9) Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is
above every name, (10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven
and on earth and under the earth, (11) and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

What the Bible Says

Ephesians 4:16 (NIV)
(16) From him the whole body, joined and held
together by every supporting ligament, grows
and builds itself up in love, as each part does its
work.

What the Bible Says

Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)
(17) As iron sharpens iron, so one person
sharpens another.

What the Bible Says

1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV)
(10) I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,[a] in
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of
you agree with one another in what you say and
that there be no divisions among you, but that
you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

What the Bible Says

Romans 15:5-6 (NIV)
(5) May the God who gives endurance and
encouragement give you the same attitude of
mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,
(6) so that with one mind and one voice you may
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ.

What the Bible Says

John 17:20-23 (NIV)
(20) My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for
those who will believe in me through their message,
(21) that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are
in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that
the world may believe that you have sent me. (22) I
have given them the glory that you gave me, that they
may be one as we are one (23) I in them and you in
meso that they may be brought to complete unity.
Then the world will know that you sent me and have
loved them even as you have loved me.

What the Bible Says

Psalm 133:1 (NIV)
(1) How good and pleasant it is when Gods
people live together in unity!

What the Bible Says

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (NIV)
(6) I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but
God has been making it grow. (7) So neither the
one who plants nor the one who waters is
anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

Stages of Team Development

Forming
Storming
Norming
Performing
Transforming

Common Sources of Conflict

What the Bible Says
James 4:1-2 (NIV)
(1) What causes fights and quarrels among
you? Dont they come from your desires that
battle within you? (2) You desire but do not
have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get
what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do
not have because you do not ask God.

How to Resolve Conflicts

What the Bible Says
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)
(4) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy,
it does not boast, it is not proud. (5) It does not
dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not
easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. (6)
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the
truth. (7) It always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always perseveres.

How to Resolve Conflicts

What the Bible Says
Matthew 18:15-17 (NIV)
(15) If your brother or sister[a] sins,[b] go and point out
their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to
you, you have won them over. (16) But if they will not
listen, take one or two others along, so that every
matter may be established by the testimony of two or
three witnesses.[c] (17) If they still refuse to listen, tell
it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the
church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax
collector.

How to Resolve Conflicts

What the Bible Says
Matthew 5:38-39 (NIV)
(38) You have heard that it was said, Eye for
eye, and tooth for tooth.[a] (39) But I tell you, do
not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on
the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek
also.

How to Resolve Conflicts

What the Bible Says
Ephesians 4:26 (NIV)
(26) In your anger do not sin[a]: Do not let the
sun go down while you are still angry,

How to Resolve Conflicts

2 Ways of Resolving Conflicts:
Adversarial Approach
Seeing each other as the problem, the source of
the conflict & focusing on our differences

How to Resolve Conflicts

Cooperative Approach
Understanding our differences& working
together to find common ground

Benefits of Teamwork
Sharing of information and ideas
Meeting psychological needs of people for being
with others
Specialization is possible
Improved learning and decision-making
Synergy (1 + 1 = 3)
Individual biases can be overcome

Ten Characteristics of Highly Performing

Teams
1. Clear Goals
2. Participative Leadership
3. Positive Atmosphere
4. Balanced Participation
5. Defined Roles
6. Cooperative Relationships
7. Valued Diversity
8. Managed Conflict
9. Open and Clear Communication
10.Effective Decision Making