Blog title...

With the awesome sunny weather today, the thought of golfing was in my mind....thought I would share this:
...also posted on my Leadership Links of KC (LINKED IN Group)

CONFLICT DYNAMICS - Golf and the Workplace?

Think about individual and organizational conflict; people will inevitably be in conflict, accept it, it is a fact. Actually, the only ingredient necessary for conflict to exist, is that there be people ‘functioning together’. The issue may be anything, from implementing a new process at work, to how someone talks or acts, differences in views about life, habits/behaviors……and well, maybe even something as important as where we should place a wastebasket in the office.

Why is conflict so natural and inevitable? Some partial reasoning is that we work with people that we did not (or would not) possibly have chosen – if it had been our choice. Unlike other situations, (like church, school and/or some other social setting where we get to choose who we are with), at work it is rarely our decision. In those other situations, we can walk away at any time; this is not the same in the work environment. It should be noted here that the issue is not that we have conflict, it is that we have ‘unidentified, irritating but unresolved’ conflict.

Ok , so you think “yeah all that makes sense, but how does it connect to the golf world?”
>Thanks for asking <
Consider this scenario: Four people, (Bob, Susan, Alex and Jackie) decide to go play golf, and let’s just say they know each other fairly well, but not real well. Without any team or relationship-development or consciousness of conflict dynamics, they just take off on the first hole, assuming WE will just play well together naturally. This is remarkably similar to what people do in the workplace when thrown together, huh? Now, how difficult can playing a round of golf be, in the context of conflict? Let’s just consider some of the many dynamics that may occur now as these four begin to ‘play’ in these beautiful, peaceful and ‘fun’ surroundings!?!
• On most shots, Alex takes forever to actually swing at the ball, after all kinds of setting up, fidgeting, practice swings, adjusting whatever, staring at the ball… (driving Bob crazy)
• Bob, being the office gabber, doesn’t really know etiquette here (or in the workplace), so he just continues to talk as Susan sets up and swings… (Susan isn’t happy about this)
• Jackie’s cell phone rings right as Alex is in his backswing… (Can you picture Alex’s frown?)
• Bob doesn’t count his stroke, the one he moved from behind the bush, and boldly declares he got a 5 on that hole. Alex being one that plays precisely by the rules (in play, life and work) is extremely aggravated about this… (Trust issues developing with others)
• Susan loves to drive the cart as fast as she can, stopping and starting with a jerk as well; driving Jackie crazy, wanting calm and peacefulness… (Jackie’s not riding with Susan again)
• Susan washes her ball after every hole, and Bob, who typically plays the whole round with a soiled ball, ‘dogs’ her for taking time just to have a clean ball.… (Susan doesn’t appreciate it)
• Jackie always jumps up to hit first, even though it is not her turn… (Bob is perturbed)
• Bob walks across everyone’s putting-line’ not knowing the etiquette… (Mumbling happening)
• Alex, putts within 4 ft. and picks up his ‘gimmee’… (Others know he would have missed it)
• Bob has a cooler of drinks/snacks and trashes the cart,… (Of course Alex is a neat freak)

Annnd we’re only on the fifth hole! OK, got the picture? Of course nobody says anything, but just go away to tell someone else, and look for new partners! Yes,conflict is very natural and inevitable. Communicating and working with others are interpersonal-skills many don’t understand or practice well.
A leader needs to know this ‘stuff’ about people. Take care, Doug