ANSWER
Change Causing Conflict
Leading others through change can be daunting, especially when it comes to new initiatives that require teamwork. In this situation, an excellent new initiative on keeping patients’ medications at home when received will require the collaboration of security personnel and nurses (De Vries, 2020).
Effective communication is one of the proven best skills for leading others through change, pivotal to guiding others through transition. In this situation, it is essential to discuss the importance of the new law and its impact on patient safety. Managers should communicate the expectations and benefits of the new policy to all employees. Managers should also be open to employee feedback and prepared to make necessary changes. Effective communication includes not just words but active listening to the concerns and suggestions of others.
Collaboration and teamwork are other best practices needed to implement new projects successfully (Stadick, 2020). Managers must create an environment that encourages collaboration and teamwork among employees. In this situation, managers should bring security and nursing staff together and encourage them to work together to implement the new policy. Collaboration and teamwork also include recognizing and utilizing each team member’s strengths and skills. For example, Lisa may know safety procedures, while Tom may know more about medication administration. By working together, they can use their unique strengths to ensure the new policy’s success.
Finally, ongoing education and training are essential for employees to adapt successfully to change. Managers should provide regular education and training to ensure employees understand the new policy and why. In this situation, managers can provide training on storing and managing medications and identifying a safe situation. Ongoing education and training can also help employees gain confidence and competence and reduce resistance to change.
As a leader or team leader, it’s essential to ensure your team works together successfully. Effective teams are productive, efficient, and collaborative, and one of the ways to achieve this is through trust and respect. As a leader, you must work to build trust and respect within the team (Siregar et al., 2021). It includes recognizing each member’s strengths and contributions, supporting and encouraging, and promoting a positive work environment. Building trust and respect can lead to better collaboration and productivity because team members are more likely to share their ideas and concerns.
Another critical aspect of team success is ensuring all members understand their roles and responsibilities. It includes defining a clear job description, setting performance goals, and providing regular feedback. Clarifying roles and responsibilities can help members understand what is expected of them, reduce conflict and promote accountability.
Encouraging professional development is also another critical strategy for ensuring team success. It includes allowing members to learn new skills, attend meetings or workshops, and seek career advancement. Encouraging professional development can keep team members engaged and motivated and contribute to the team’s success as a whole (Hallmark et al., 2021).
Setting clear goals and objectives is another strategy for building a successful team. As a leader, one needs to set clear goals and objectives for your team and ensure each member understands their role in achieving them. It includes setting SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, impactful, and time-bound) goals, breaking down larger goals into smaller possible tasks, and reviewing consistent performance.
Effective communication will also be another key to the team’s success. As a leader, you must create an environment that encourages open communication. It includes encouraging team members to share ideas, concerns, and suggestions. You can achieve this by having regular meetings, generating feedback, and allowing members to participate in projects.
Difficult conversations can be challenging, especially when a team’s conflict needs to be resolved. However, conflict resolution is essential to maintaining an efficient and effective workplace. One of the ways that can help you manage a situation is a collaborative approach in which you work with others to find a standard solution to the problem. This approach involves active listening, understanding the feelings of others, and finding common ground. When using a collaborative approach, it is essential to focus the discussion on a specific issue and avoid accusations or personal attacks. Discussing solutions together and agreeing on an action plan that solves the problem below can also be helpful.
Another method is mediation, which involves an external mediator to facilitate discussion between the two disputing parties. This approach can be helpful when there is a particular conflict or the two parties cannot communicate well. A moderator can keep the discussion focused on the problem, manage emotions, and encourage the parties to work together to find a solution. For example, if two groups of participants have a conflict, you can bring in a moderator to facilitate the discussion. A therapist can help each member share their concerns and feelings, identify commonalities, and work together to find a solution for both of you.
Determining the root cause of the conflict is an essential step in resolving it. It is only possible to create a solution by understanding the underlying problem. The first step is to gather information about the accident. It involves talking to all stakeholders and understanding their points of view. You may need to review documents, supervise teamwork, or conduct interviews to understand the situation. It is vital to approach this step with an open mind and not to think about the cause of the conflict.
The second step in problem-solving is to focus on a common goal. When partners concentrate on common goals, they are more likely to put aside their differences and work together. Leaders can help team members focus on a common goal by reminding them of the big picture and how individual contributions fit into the team. By shifting the focus from individual needs and preferences to shared team goals, you can help team members overcome differences and work together effectively.
The third step is to set clear expectations. Conflicts often stem from misunderstandings or miscommunication about roles, responsibilities, and expectations (Ni She & Harrison, 2021). As a leader, it’s important to ensure that each member of your team has a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities, as well as their job expectations. This includes setting clear deadlines, setting good standards, and providing guidance and support as needed. By setting clear expectations, you can avoid conflict in the first place and better resolve issues when they arise.
Finally, find a win-win solution. In the event of a conflict, it is vital to find a solution that works for everyone involved. It requires a collaborative effort to find a solution that meets everyone’s needs. As a leader, you can facilitate this process by encouraging open communication, active listening, and creative problem-solving. Encourage members to share their thoughts and ideas and work together to find solutions for everyone. When everyone feels they have a say in the solution, they are more likely to invest in making it work.
References
De Vries, J. (2020). Identifying inventory project management conflicts: Results of an empirical study. International Journal of Production Economics, p. 226, 107620.
Hallmark, B., Brown, M., Peterson, D. T., Fey, M., Decker, S., Wells-Beede, E., … & Morse, C. (2021). Healthcare simulation standards of best practiceTM professional development. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 58, 5–8.
Ni She, E., & Harrison, R. (2021). Mitigating unintended consequences of co‐design in health care. Health Expectations, 24(5), 1551–1556.
Siregar, I., Rahmadiyah, F., & Siregar, A. F. Q. (2021). Therapeutic communication strategies in nursing process of angry, anxious, and fearful schizophrenic patients. British Journal of Nursing Studies, 1(1), 13-19.
Stadick, J. L. (2020). The relationship between interprofessional education and health care professional’s attitudes towards teamwork and interprofessional collaborative competencies. Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice, 19, 100320.
QUESTION
You are the site manager for a health care center caring for an urban population experiencing homelessness. After the identification of patient safety concerns, you have realized the need to institute a new quality initiative regarding how patients’ home medications are stored when they are admitted. This new initiative involves the cooperation of the security and nursing staff. While most of the staff understand and are following the new policy, there appears to be difficulty any time Lisa – a security guard – and Tom – an LPN – are working together. In 1,000-1,250 words, examine the following based on the scenario above:
- Assess three best practices in leading others through the change process. These should be evidence-based best practices.
- Discuss how you would ensure your team is working together successfully.
- List two approaches you can use in having a difficult conversation to address conflict on your team.
- Describe methods you would use to resolve conflict on your team.
Provide three to five scholarly resources, in addition to information from your textbook.