Workplace Conflict Resolution: Ben Gold Of Recommended Home Buyers On How Team Leaders Can Create The Right Environment To Resolve Conflicts
An Interview With Eric Pines
Active Listening and Empathy: Encouraging team members to actively listen and understand diverse perspectives. In a situation where roles overlapped, attentive listening revealed hidden talents, leading to collaborative solutions.
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 Ben Gold.
Ben Gold is a seasoned professional in the real estate industry, bringing many years of experience as an investor and developer based in Philadelphia, PA. As the Founder of Recommended Home Buyers, his expertise encompasses remodeling homes, rental property management, and house flipping. Ben’s commitment to delivering valuable insights is evident through his features in prestigious publications such as Story By JP Morgan, Forbes, New York Post, Better Homes & Gardens, Yahoo Finance, Homes & Gardens, Real Estate Witch, Go Banking Rates, Ownerly, Bankrate, Family Handyman, Realtor.com, Livingetc, Home Station, and Many More for his exceptional real estate development projects. With a passion for transparency and a holistic approach to real estate transactions, Ben continues to make a significant impact in the field.
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?
Certainly, Eric. My trajectory into real estate was sparked by a blend of curiosity and entrepreneurial spirit. Exploring properties and their potential captivated me early on. This passion, combined with a background in finance, drove me to carve a niche in the real estate landscape. The culmination of this journey is Recommended Home Buyers, where we prioritize transparency and holistic solutions in real estate dealings.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
Of course, Eric. One particularly memorable experience involved rejuvenating a dilapidated property into a modern masterpiece. Overcoming structural challenges while preserving the property’s essence demanded innovative solutions. Witnessing the transformation from neglect to allure was undeniably gratifying.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life?
“Progress over perfection.” This quote consistently guides me. I once encountered a situation where we had to decide whether to delay a project for perfection or proceed for progress. We chose the latter, and that decision not only maintained momentum but also led to unexpected breakthroughs.
What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
At Recommended Home Buyers, we stand out due to our unwavering commitment to client-centric transparency. One instance that exemplifies this commitment is when we meticulously walked a client through the financial intricacies of a property investment. This approach established trust and a lasting partnership.
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?
Certainly, Eric. Adaptability is paramount. When market dynamics shifted unexpectedly, we swiftly pivoted our investment strategies. Resilience is equally crucial. Overcoming setbacks, we transformed a challenging property into a profitable venture. Lastly, communication skills have been pivotal in negotiating deals that benefit all stakeholders.
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?
Of course, Eric. A defining moment involved choosing between two promising property investments. Both options had merits, but limited resources demanded a choice. By aligning the decision with our long-term goals and potential returns, we achieved sustained growth.
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 embodies the process of identifying, addressing, and mitigating disputes or disagreements within a team or organization in a way that fosters collaboration and preserves relationships.
What are some common misunderstandings about Conflict Resolution that are important to clear up?
A common misconception is that conflict resolution implies eradicating differences. In reality, it focuses on finding common ground or a compromise that respects varying viewpoints.
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?
Leaders are at the forefront of managing diverse teams. Proficient conflict resolution ensures that differences don’t escalate into disruptions, maintaining a harmonious work environment conducive to innovation and growth.
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?
Inadequate conflict resolution creates an atmosphere of tension and unease. Employees feel apprehensive about voicing concerns, hindering collaboration and dampening enthusiasm.
Can you provide examples of how effective conflict resolution has led to increased team performance, collaboration, or innovation within your organization?
Certainly, Eric. In a project, conflicting design preferences threatened progress. Through open dialogue and compromise, we merged ideas and achieved an innovative design that exceeded expectations.
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 . Active Listening and Empathy: Encouraging team members to actively listen and understand diverse perspectives. In a situation where roles overlapped, attentive listening revealed hidden talents, leading to collaborative solutions.
2 . Structured Communication Channels: Establishing clear channels for open dialogue. When project priorities clashed due to miscommunication, setting up regular team updates resolved misunderstandings.
3 . Mediation and Facilitation: Introducing neutral mediators to facilitate discussions. For instance, during a disagreement about resource allocation, involving an unbiased mediator led to fair decisions.
4 . Collaborative Problem-Solving: Encouraging teams to collectively identify solutions. When disputes arose over project approaches, collaborative brainstorming led to innovative strategies.
5 . Continuous Feedback Loop: Creating mechanisms for ongoing feedback. In a scenario where personal preferences clashed, a continuous feedback loop helped bridge gaps and adapt strategies.
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?
Differences in work styles, unclear roles, and opposing goals can spark conflicts. Proactively defining roles, setting expectations, and conducting team-building activities foster understanding and preemptively manage conflicts.
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. 🙂
I’d champion a movement focused on “Community-First Real Estate.” This movement would prioritize sustainable development that uplifts local communities through affordable housing initiatives and promotes economic growth.
How can our readers further follow you online?
Readers can stay connected through our website and social media platforms. I regularly share insights on real estate trends, innovative projects, and strategies for successful transactions.
Website: https://www.recommendedhomebuyers.com/we-buy-houses-in-lancaster-pa/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/recommended-home-buyers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Recommended-Home-Buyers/100088965278811/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/recommendedhomebuyers/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjKIBt0Z2yMDxXIOqhO5TLg/featured
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@recommendedhomebuyers
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RecommendedHome
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/recommendedhomebuyers/
Thank you for the time you spent sharing these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
Thank you, Eric. It’s been a pleasure discussing this crucial aspect of leadership with you. I’m hopeful that these insights will contribute to fostering healthier work environments.
About the Interviewer: Eric L. Pines is a nationally recognized federal employment lawyer, mediator, and attorney business coach. He represents federal employees and acts as in-house counsel for over fifty thousand federal employees through his work as a federal employee labor union representative. A formal federal employee himself, Mr. Pines began his federal employment law career as in-house counsel for AFGE Local 1923 which is in Social Security Administration’s headquarters and is the largest federal union local in the world. He presently serves as AFGE 1923’s Chief Counsel as well as in-house counsel for all FEMA bargaining unit employees and numerous Department of Defense and Veteran Affairs unions.
While he and his firm specialize in representing federal employees from all federal agencies and in reference to virtually all federal employee matters, his firm has placed special attention on representing Veteran Affairs doctors and nurses hired under the authority of Title. He and his firm have a particular passion in representing disabled federal employees with their requests for medical and religious reasonable accommodations when those accommodations are warranted under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (ADA). He also represents them with their requests for Federal Employee Disability Retirement (OPM) when an accommodation would not be possible.
Mr. Pines has also served as a mediator for numerous federal agencies including serving a year as the Library of Congress’ in-house EEO Mediator. He has also served as an expert witness in federal court for federal employee matters. He has also worked as an EEO technical writer drafting hundreds of Final Agency Decisions for the federal sector.
Mr. Pines’ firm is headquartered in Houston, Texas and has offices in Baltimore, Maryland and Atlanta, Georgia. His first passion is his wife and five children. He plays classical and rock guitar and enjoys playing ice hockey, running, and biking. Please visit his websites at www.pinesfederal.com and www.toughinjurylawyers.com. He can also be reached at eric@pinesfederal.com.
Workplace Conflict Resolution: Ben Gold Of Recommended Home Buyers On How Team Leaders Can Create… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.