All Organizations Have Conflict
Whether your organization is a for-profit business or a non-profit ministry, you undoubtedly know what it is like to experience conflict. Resources are limited, decisions have to be made, and competing interests are constantly being negotiated. The diversity of talents, personalities, communication styles, and levels of maturity on your team often compound the issues.
Left unchecked, destructive conflict causes emotional exhaustion and degrades the quality of work your organization produces. When people fail to treat one another with respect, care, and humility, work becomes a grind. Frequent resignations or firings add tremendous cost (in both tangible and intangible ways) and remaining staff members are often confused, discouraged, and unmotivated to commit to the organization for the long haul. In addition, it is expensive and time-consuming to locate, hire, and train new employees. Conflict burns us out-employees, customers, and stockholders all suffer the results.
There is Help for Your Organization
If you are passionate about your organization's mission and committed to its success, but discouraged by the interpersonal conflicts that seem to plague your organization, then we have good news! Having worked with hundreds of businesses and ministries, we know firsthand that nothing cuts into ministry fruitfulness or business success like conflict. Consequently, we have developed helpful resources to equip your entire team to respond to conflict in a biblically faithful manner.
Evaluate Your Organization's Culture
One step is to evaluate your organization's peacemaking culture. Ask questions like:
- Do people show genuine respect for the opinions, interests, and reputations of others?
- When people disagree with one another, do they try to speak the truth in a loving way?
- Do people resolve disagreements among themselves constructively?
- Do people value relationships and work hard to strengthen and preserve them?
- Do leaders provide a consistently positive example of resolving conflict?
- Do people show compassion toward others, even people who are very different or difficult to love?
In addition, you may want to consider whether any of the following issues (that regularly cause organizational conflicts) are present in your business or ministry:
- Is your organization well structured? Are there clear reporting structures and job descriptions? Do all employees receive consistent and accurate feedback? (Especially on the difficult aspects of "areas in need of further improvement.")
- Do you ask too much of your employees? Are they burdened by tasks that they have neither the resources nor the authority to accomplish? Is there a constant sense of being overworked and underappreciated?
- Do your leaders (including yourself) serve? Or do they insist on being served?
Train Your Staff in Peacemaking
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Guiding People Through Conflict
A succinct summary and application of biblical conflict resolution principles for those trying to assist other people who are struggling with conflict.
$4.95
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If you have an understanding of your organization's peacemaking culture, the next step is to educate the entire team on the foundational principles of biblical peacemaking. Some options include:
- Give every employee a copy of The Peacemaker and have everyone at management level read Guiding People Through Conflict.
- Provide a forum for the biblical resolution of conflicts by sending key staff members through at least the first four levels of Peacemaker training.
- Regularly train your staff on biblical conflict resolution and encourage them when they are stewarding their conflicts wisely. The Team Peacemaker is a good way to provide an overview of peacemaking principles (while it is designed for short-term missions teams, it works equally well for other team environments).
- Peacemaker Ministries will also be glad to facilitate custom training for your entire staff by one of our many qualified and experienced instructors. Contact us for more information.
Implement Key Changes
There are also several other key implementation steps you can take to help your organization continue down the path of peace:
You Are Not Alone
Although maintaining unity can be one of the most demanding challenges you will face, you are not alone. Read the articles and true stories in this section to see how other people handled difficult situations in their businesses. The section specifically directed toward Christian Education might also be helpful to you. Ultimately, we are here to serve you—so please do not hesitate to contact us for training, consulting, or conciliation assistance.
Whether you are a business executive, ministry leader or a dedicated employee, devote yourself to in-house peacemaking. Be "eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3). You, your staff, and your customers will be glad you did!
Helpful Audio Resources
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Team Peacemaker
Information about biblical peacemaking specifically for short-term missions teams as they travel, assist, and represent the church worldwide.
$17.95
more info
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