How to manage conflicts on projects?

Conflicts are risks that can be exploited as they reveal differences to be harmonized and power dynamics that you must balance. Manage conflicts with 3 steps on your projects:

1. Do your homework. Clarify what types of tasks there were and their processes, and uncover the overt and covert decision makers that you must keep informed, interested, and involved.
2. Reach an agreement on what to do, how to do it, and by whom. Document what tasks are in scope and the process for completing them, and who are responsible.
3. Monitor the degree to which #1 and #2 converge & diverge. For example, best practices are sometimes at odds with preferred practices, e.g. stakeholders prefer tables over Gannt charts. You’ll have to decide your boundaries and tolerance level.

DO NOT tolerate underhanded tactics because the conflicts they create only lead to dysfunction and risks that can’t be easily managed or exploited!

SEE ALSO:

How to turn conflict with your boss to your advantage?

How to more effectively negotiate with a stakeholder you’re in conflict with?

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