Conflict Resolution Essay

As a manager, I think the best strategy for relaying the company’s decision to downsize would be by oral communication having a formal meeting with the whole team. I believe this is the best method because it keeps morale up and structure within the business. The team will appreciate honesty, and while they still have some concerns, they feel confident that you have their backs – even if things do not work out. (Breaking the News). The lines of communications between upper management and employees become open so each part has time to explain their side and also answer any questions. In a managerial position, it is difficult to explain to employees that the company is thinking about downsizing. In reference to the story #2 Breaking the News A â€Å"Tell Your Team About Downsizing† Adventure the company told management that downsizing was going to happen across the business affecting 100 employees. Employees affected by the downsizing are most of the sandwich devel opment department and brine recycling & traditional print marketing department. The online marketing teams will not be affected , and no more downsizing will occur the rest of the year. Management should hold a face to face meeting with all employees. The best way to handle gossip is by avoiding small talk, management should clearly explain the current situation without being too dramatic and be prepared to answer questions. Avoid beating around the bush. It is extremely important to explain details to all employee. Work place gossip can cause a great deal of harm to an organization. There are several ways in which gossip can hurt a business. The ways are listed as follows: Lost productivity and wasted time, morale and trust can no longer exist, increased anxiety among employees as rumors circulate without any clear information as to what is fact and what is not, divisiveness tends to grow among employees as people may take a side, and employees feelings and reputations are hurt, sometimes causing severe damage. Address the online marketing team who will not be affected by the downsizing by hold a face to face oral meeting as well. Management that the company is trying to make the business more efficient as we become more profitable and that is why the downsizing is occurring. Be up front and  honest letting the team know that they are not being affected. This approach reassures to the team that management has their back and really cares about them. It also calms office rumors and puts everyone on the â€Å"same page†. A personal work experience similar to the scenario in Story #2 Breaking the News A â€Å"Tell Your Team About Downsizing† Adventure would be when I sold cars for a small family owned car lot in Houston who laid me off without notice. I had been hearing rumors that the company was not making a lot of money, but I brushed it to the side. My sales team received our pay checks for the week and went to our respective banks and found out they were all declined. I went back to the car lot to tell the owner that all the payroll checks were declined , and he said, â€Å"We should go to hi s bank to cash them†. Two weeks later we were all laid off , and the car lot was eventually closed. If I were the owner of the car dealership I would have been up front and honest with the employees letting them know that the business was just opening , and that decisions were being made to build profit and sell cars. I believe the owner had an opportunity when the payroll checks were declined to tell his employees details of the business.