Individual Diversity & Conflict Management

The dynamics of individual diversity within the design of a team working together are both a blessing and a curse to the team. In the make-up of a team having a diverse group of personalities and giftings can be a benefit if the team realizes the diversity they have and use it to their advantage. If a team can take the time to realize that where one person is weak another on the team may be stronger then the team can develop a strategy whereupon in a given situation they will know who on the team is most gifted to lead. The curse of diversity will come if the team members do not recognize and appreciate the various personalities but rather see them as obstacles that they are unable to overcome.

In any group or team there is going to be conflict that arises. The challenging is not in how to keep it from happening but how to address it when it does. For any team to be successful they must have a system of conflict management in place that is diverse enough to be effective but yet simple enough to be efficiently done. Conflict resolution that the team all supports and agrees to can be a great benefit to the team if it is seen as tool for effective teamwork and not a threat to the team members.