Mediating Conflict by Unpacking Work Values

Recently, a client approached me with a challenging situation. They'd been tasked with mediating a growing conflict between two members of their team.  The conflict stemmed from misunderstandings and mismatched priorities.

My first step in situations like this is to help each individual identify their key work-related values.  Values have an enormous impact on how we interact within a professional setting, and I've found that aligning on these is crucial.

In this instance, both team members identified "Dedication" as their top value.  At first, I thought this was a positive sign – surely common ground existed!  However, deeper exploration uncovered some key differences.

I asked the first team member, "How do you demonstrate dedication in your work? Give me an example." The response: "By consistently putting in extra hours and prioritising the project above everything else. Sometimes this means working long into the night or on weekends."

I asked the second team member the same question: "How do you express dedication in your role?". They replied, "By focusing on quality over quantity. I ensure that my work is thorough, thoughtful, and meets our standards for excellence."

The problem became clear. The team members had the same value label, "Dedication", but vastly different interpretations of its meaning.  One prioritised time commitment, while the other focused on quality output. This misalignment led to resentment and fractured teamwork.

This experience reinforces something I've learned working with teams in many organisations.  Common buzzwords like "Success", "Innovation", "Teamwork", and "Impact" are used liberally, but everyone's definition is unique.

This is why I'm cautious about broad generalisations regarding work styles or motivations based on factors like age or generational labels. I understand people’s desire to generalise concepts. It is after all one of the ways humans make sense of the world. However, grouping people together and assuming they'll all act according to a stereotype is an oversimplification that can hinder collaboration and growth.

Understanding the nuances of individual values is what truly helps us make sense of our complex work environments. We create a more productive and supportive workspace when we acknowledge that our personal definitions of success, dedication, and innovation likely vary, and that's perfectly okay!