Workplace Conflict Resolution: Author Anquisha Janea Crutcher On How Team Leaders Can Create The Right Environment To Resolve Conflicts
An Interview With Eric Pines
Understand the Work Culture. Examine your work culture, find out what works for you, your team, and your company.
An important component of leadership is conflict resolution. Why is conflict resolution so important? How can leaders effectively incorporate conflict resolution into their work culture? In this interview series called “Workplace Conflict Resolution: How Team Leaders Can Create The Right Environment To Resolve Conflicts,” we are talking to business leaders who can share insights and anecdotes from their experience about how to implement Conflict Resolution at work. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Anquisha Janea Crutcher.
Anquisha Janea Crutcher, is an author, entrepreneur, social activist, and writer. She is passionate about helping people gain the tools necessary to help better themselves; and is the author of several books and is a voice for educating many entrepreneurs and business leaders. Anquisha Janea Crutcher strives to embrace change through her experience, books, and advocacy.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive into our discussion, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path?
I am from Eads, TN. I am a business owner, toy inventor, author of several books, online blogs, and classes. I am the voice for educating career lead business leaders, future, and current entrepreneurs, on the importance of conflict resolution in their work culture. I have an extensive background in education and self-care, along with mentoring and teaching on the fundamentals of gaining lifestyle direction and focus in areas of need. I am happy for this chance to express my expertise in this area.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
The most interesting story that has happened to me since I’ve started my career is learning how to deal with conflict resolution. Every area and every situation is different; the thing about being a team leader is that you have to be able to adjust to each conflict that may arise.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life?
My favorite life lesson quote is “Keep Your Eye on the Prize”. While you are going through your career journey there may be some conflicts that arise. As a team leader, you must be able to keep your focal point on the goal at hand. If you run into some conflicts, address them properly and keep your eye on the overall goal for success; not only for yourself but for your entire company.
What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
Being an entrepreneur and in a full-time career, there is one thing that I’ve noticed that is common for it all; standing on your morals and mission. What makes my company stand out is our open and available options to resolve the conflict as it arises; all while keeping a strong foundation on our morals and mission.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
The three character traits that I think were most instrumental to my success is; listening, action, and repeat. You must listen to the pros and cons that surround your company. Take action when you see any irregular activity, and repeat the steps listed to help gain a smooth and successful way of business.
Leadership often entails making difficult decisions or hard choices between two apparently good paths. Can you share a story about a hard decision or choice you had to make as a leader?
Making a difficult decision or hard choices between two good paths is common when in leadership. There was a time that a hard decision came into play in my work environment. I had to make a decision between two great ideas that were causing confusion amongst both parties. Being the leader, I had weight the pros and cons on both sides to see what will fit the overall mission of the task at hand.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Let’s start with a basic definition so that all of us are on the same page. What does Conflict Resolution mean?
Conflict resolution is a means of finding the common ground between two or even more disagreement parties.
What are some common misunderstandings about Conflict Resolution that are important to clear up?
Some common misunderstandings about conflict resolution that are important to clear up is that all conflicts are bad and cannot be resolved. Many conflicts can arise between two outstanding ideas, and the central conflict may arise when it is difficult into choose which one that you will proceed with, without compromising the other party.
This might be intuitive to you, but it will be helpful to clearly express this. Can you please explain why it is so important for leaders to learn and deploy conflict resolution techniques?
It is important for leaders to learn to deploy conflict resolution techniques to help them be prepare for times where an issue may arise. Every situation and conflict is different, a leader must be able to adjust accordingly.
On the flip side, what happens to a work culture when there is not an effective way of resolving conflict? How does it impact employees?
A tense work environment will happen to a work culture when there is not an effective way of resolving conflict. This type of tension will impact the employees, they will become estranged from work life, the everyday workflow and eventually this could lead to a dislocated worker.
Can you provide examples of how effective conflict resolution has led to increased team performance, collaboration, or innovation within your organization?
Effective conflict resolution is in how quickly and efficient you address the conflict at hand. That can overall lead to increase team performance, collaboration, and innovation within the organization.
Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “Five Ways Every Team Leader Can Create The Right Environment To Resolve Conflicts”? If you can, please share specific examples of a workplace conflict you’ve encountered, and how you applied conflict resolution techniques to address it.
1 . Understand the Work Culture. Examine your work culture, find out what works for you, your team, and your company.
2 . Have an Updated Conflict Policy. Have an updated conflict policy set into place; considering that each conflict is different.
3 . Create a Team Building Environment. Your work environment is based on the tone of your office. Creative a type of environment that helps set the tone for you and your company.
4 . Identify and Establish a Common Goal. Share your overall common goal that you would like to have, most times this is the company’s mission statement.
5 . Check in Frequently. After an initial work conflict, follow up on the parties frequently to aid any after conflict resolution issue.
In your experience, what are the most common sources of conflict within a team, and how do you proactively address these potential issues before they escalate?
The most common sources of conflict within a team, is through miscommunication and the disagreement that comes with a task, group project or event planning. To proactively address these potential issues, address them when they arise, this can help deescalate any potential issues.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
If I could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, I would use my success to help add goodness to the world. Giving back to those around me with educational information and ideas that would help make them create a better self.
How can our readers further follow you online?
The best way for readers to reach out to me is on my website at www.ajcrutcher.com or on all social media platforms at AJ_Crutcher.com
Thank you for the time you spent sharing these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
Workplace Conflict Resolution: Author Anquisha Janea Crutcher On How Team Leaders Can Create The… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.