Can one imagine? Four cave people went out on the hunt and had problems with the kill? Perhaps carvings on rocks, or drawings in the dirt would allow the team of hunters to form a plan and work more efficiently. Picture this, one hunter with a club might wait around the corner, another agreed they would use a rock sling to scare the prey from its grazing place, while the other two hunters agreed to hide in the trees and be ready to catch their prey. They implemented this plan through some form of communication. But what happens if the two hunters hiding in the trees come up with a different plan. They believe they have the most difficult task, and one of them decides not to participate, this is conflict. .
Conflict is an unavoidable part of our everyday life. Diversity in people creates conflict. Different ideals and points of view may provide tension in work groups. Various personalities and current mindsets can also create problems. Although conflict within work teams is looked upon as discouraging, it can be utilized to the advantage of all groups. In order to solve conflict issues in teams, the teams members must first communicate and acknowledge conflict exists as it arises, clarify the conflict source, and then focus on team goals. .
Communication in groups is key to success in every group in and out of the work place. Fortunately for people of today, times have changed; technology has allowed us to solve problems more efficiently. Many years ago team conflict was resolved only with verbal or written communication. The same principles exist today and are used constantly. "Company meetings each and every morning," says Frank O"Brien (2003), owner of the now thirteen-year-old auto repair shop in Ferndale, Michigan. The entire group of ten workers, including the mechanics and clerical staff get together each morning before the shop opens to the public. The goal here is to resolve issues that occurred the previous day, and come up with a solution.
