Conflict Resolution in Remote and Virtual Work Environments

Quick reference

• 00:04 Welcome to this lesson on Conflict Resolution in Remote and
• 00:08 Virtual Work Environments.
• 00:09 In this lesson, we'll discuss the challenges of resolving conflicts in
• 00:14 remote settings, effective communication strategies for virtual teams, and
• 00:18 tools and techniques you can use to help resolve those remote conflicts.
• 00:22 Let's get started.
• 00:23 More and more of us are now working remotely and
• 00:26 while this provides some nice benefits,
• 00:28 it does introduce unique challenges when it comes to resolving conflicts.
• 00:32 There's limited non-verbal communication.
• 00:35 When you're messaging via text or on voice only calls, the lack of body language and
• 00:40 facial expressions can lead to misunderstandings and confusion.
• 00:45 If you've ever been confused by reading a joke or
• 00:48 someone using sarcasm in a text, well, you wouldn't be the only one.
• 00:52 Time zone differences, trying to coordinate conversations between team
• 00:57 members who live in multiple time zones or sometimes across the world can be
• 01:02 difficult, making it tougher to find a resolution should a conflict arise.
• 01:07 And there's fewer opportunities for informal interactions.
• 01:10 In remote settings, we don't have as many chances for
• 01:13 casual conversations like meeting up at the lunchroom or
• 01:17 just stopping by someone's desk that can help address tensions and conflicts.
• 01:22 Good communication is crucial for conflict resolution in remote and virtual teams.
• 01:27 So here are some strategies to improve communication in a virtual setting.
• 01:33 Number one, establish the clear communication channels, set expectations
• 01:37 for which platforms and tools will be used for different types of communication.
• 01:43 Sometimes teams use specific platforms for projects.
• 01:46 Design teams need visual tools to collaborate, for example.
• 01:50 But when it comes to everyday messaging in a place to communicate with others,
• 01:54 there should be one platform where everyone knows that they can reach someone
• 01:59 whenever necessary.
• 02:00 Make it clear which platform that is.
• 02:02 Schedule regular check-ins, hold weekly or biweekly team meetings and
• 02:07 one-on-one sessions to discuss progress, concerns and potential conflicts.
• 02:13 More feedback becomes available and
• 02:16 there are more opportunities to discuss any concerns.
• 02:21 And encourage video calls.
• 02:23 Whenever possible, use video for meetings to facilitate better understanding and
• 02:29 build rapport among team members.
• 02:31 A nice time to turn on the cameras, if you usually don't,
• 02:36 is when you're introducing a new teammate, so they can link faces to names.
• 02:41 But try as we might, virtual teams may experience conflicts from time to time.
• 02:46 So when that happens, you can try some of these techniques out.
• 02:50 Virtual whiteboards, they can be a helpful tool for brainstorming and
• 02:54 collaborative problem solving.
• 02:57 The goal is to talk through the situation and come up with potential solutions.
• 03:02 If you don't have access to fancy tools,
• 03:05 even if all you do is open up a Google doc on screen and start typing out
• 03:09 the ideas with everyone participating, the collaboration can happen.
• 03:14 Time management tools.
• 03:16 To accommodate different time zones, use scheduling
• 03:19 tools to find mutually convenient times for conflict resolution meetings.
• 03:24 Can't always solve things over text, so get everyone present.
• 03:28 It might mean an early morning or late night for someone, but
• 03:33 the goal here is to make it worth everyone's time.
• 03:36 And written communication.
• 03:38 Ensure that important decisions and resolutions are documented in writing,
• 03:42 such as through email or project management tools,
• 03:46 because this will help avoid any confusion and misinterpretation.
• 03:50 And be sure to monitor the progress of whatever plan is implemented.
• 03:54 The work isn't done until the conflict is.
• 03:57 In our next lesson, we'll talk about managing
• 04:01 conflicts with difficult people and the importance
• 04:06 of developing cultural awareness and sensitivity.

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