Episode 194: Conflict as a Leadership Tool (Leadership Development)

The People Strategy Podcast

Adam Gruszcynski is the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. He previously served as the venue’s Information Technology Security Manager, where he reduced cyber risk while securing team member and guest information. As a network and security expert, Adam was also a Network Administrator at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, where he supported network resources and secured IT system delivery.

In this episode…

Conflict resolution in the workplace is often viewed as a daunting challenge. Many leaders navigate through issues that aren't directly related to them but impact team dynamics and productivity. Yet conflict isn’t always negative, so how can it catalyze actionable results in your organization?

Leadership developer Adam Gruszcynski emphasizes identifying the root causes of conflict, which often lie beneath surface issues. He outlines four common types of conflict: task, process, status, and relationship conflicts. Accountability is essential in mitigating task and process conflicts since individuals may have varied approaches to accomplishing tasks. Adam also mentions allowing team members the freedom to determine their methods while maintaining alignment on the end goal. His approach to resolving status and relationship conflicts involves fostering open communication and encouraging individuals to address conflicts directly with their peers before stepping in as a moderator.

In the sixth edition of The People Strategy Podcast’s Leadership Development series, Traci Austin and Adam Gruszcynski of Potawatomi Casino Hotel discuss conflict resolution. Adam shares how passive, aggressive, and assertive behaviors manifest during conflict, the role of behaviors in team communication, and how to foster conflict resolution in your team.

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