BUSINESS STRATEGY
Put the fish on the table:
How to address conflict and get a failing project back on track through effective leadership
There is no way for leaders to avoid conflict in any high-stakes business environment. It’ s important to address conflict, resolve issues and turn around failing projects. George Kohlrieser, Author of Hostage at the Table and Distinguished Professor of Leadership and Organisational Behaviour at the International Institute for Management Development, outlines how leaders can engage in constructive dialogue and refocus the team on shared goals.
Conflict is inevitable in any high-stakes business environment, and as a leader, there is no way to avoid it. Instead, bring it into the open – what I call‘ putting the fish on the table’. This concept serves as a metaphor for the critical leadership skill of addressing conflict, resolving issues and turning around failing projects. When a project is off track, ignoring the conflict only allows the problem to fester, much like a‘ fish left under the table’ begins to rot. A leader must address these tensions, engage in constructive dialogue and refocus the team on shared goals. Here are some areas to keep in mind:
1. Recognising when a project is being held hostage
Projects fail for many reasons, including poor communication, misaligned goals, shifting priorities or resistance to change. Teams www. intelligentcxo. com
25