Working with Diversity and Conflict

Running head: WORKING WITH DIVERSITY AND CONFLICT
Working with Diversity and conflict
Name of the Student
Name of the University
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1WORKING WITH DIVERSITY AND CONFLICT
Introduction
Considering the fact that conflict in the workplace is an unavoidable part of work
experience, they can be highly reduced by self-assessment (Leon-Perezet et al. 2015). Having
self-awareness is crucial since when we have a better understanding of ourselves, we can easily
assess our strengths as well as weaknesses. This understanding of our own selves helps us to deal
with conflicts that we face in our workplaces. Some of the highly beneficial self-assessment tools
include the Johari Window model, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) model, the
Transactional Analysis (TA) and the DISC tool. In this essay, I will reflect upon how the above-
mentioned tools have helped me to manage a critical conflict that happened in my workplace
The conflict
Being the manager of the XYZ Company, situated in Sydney, Australia, I have
experienced several crucial conflicts in my workplace. As a manager, I always believe that
conflict can be healthy if solved with efficiency. It helps in the development of better
understanding among the employees as well as the superiors. However, if not solved in an
appropriate way, conflict can take a major shape and result in immense loss of revenue of the
organization. That year, our Company had got the opportunity to sign a major project that can
enhance our revenue to a great level. However, the deadline of the project was too short and
hence the manager decided to let the project go Being a person of overachieving mentally, I
insisted my superior to sign the contract of the project assuring that I would be able to manage
the situation. My intention was to pursue and motivate the employees to work overtime and thus
get the work done within the stipulated time. Unfortunately, the plan made by me did not seem to
work the way I wanted to. While more than 70 percent of the employees were not ready to work

2WORKING WITH DIVERSITY AND CONFLICT
overtime, 26 percent of the employees asked for incentive for working after the official time was
over. Only 4 percent of the employees seemed to have no issues with the plan. As a result of this,
the productivity required for the completion of the project on time was not achieved. Being
highly tensed, I started pressuring the employees to work overtime. While the majority of the
employees kept silence, one of the employees protested. Our conversation eventually took the
form of an argument. During the argument, the employee had started using abusive words
against me. Being highly short tempered, I terminated the employee under Zero Tolerance Act
and for ill-behaving with his superior. This situation ignited the conflict and the employees of the
organization called for a strike in favour of the terminated employee.
How Johari window, MBTI, TA and DISC helped me to manage the conflict
In order to deal with the above-discussed situation, I underwent the four abovementioned
self-assessment test. With the help of DISC, Analysis tool helped me to understand my
leadership style. From the DiSC Analysis test (Saxena 2015), I understood that I belong to the Di
category. The term Di stands for Dominant and influential. This tool helped me assess my
strength as well as a weakness as a leader. While I have the capacity to influence and motivate
my employees to a great level, being a dominant leader, I imposed the pressure of my own
decision on the employees which had lead to the above-mentioned conflict. The DiSC Analysis
model also helped me to predict the behaviour of my employees and this, in turn, enabled me to
establish effective interaction with each one of them. The Johari window model helped me to
handle criticism. I understood that criticism is one of the best ways to understand one’s own
personality and what one’s peers think about him (Burian et al. 2014). With the help of Johari
Tool, I understood what my peers, as well as my subordinates, think about me. This, in turn,
helped me to understand their psychology and issues they have with me. I also gained the