Article Link The Conflict Resolution Skills Every Project Manager Needs. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2023/10/the-conflict-resolution-skills-every-project-manager-needs

This article made for an interesting read as it emphasizes the importance of effectively managing conflicts in project management. During our time in this project management master's program, I am sure we have all had our fair share of situations where the techniques recommended in this article would have been beneficial for successful progression in the given course involving team projects. The author argues that rather than avoiding conflicts, project managers should create an environment where conflicts are anticipated, appreciated, and handled in a way that is beneficial to the project and the organization as a whole. One of the key strategies provided in the article is to expose tensions by acknowledging that different stakeholders bring diverse perspectives to the project team. Another suggestion is to solicit dissent by encouraging team members to provide differing perspectives which allows consideration of all options available. Overall, the article contained valuable wisdom on strategies that can be applied to improve the performance of project managers.

Questions: 1. How might a project manager create an environment where productive conflict can exist and benefit the team?

2. What strategies might a project manager implement to encourage open communication and solicit dissent in a way that strengthens the team's performance?

3. When a project manager is facing a situation where they need to influence decision-making stakeholders with great authority, what techniques can be used to effectively communicate concerns?