As the CEO of a company, it is your responsibility to manage conflicts between members of your team and ensure that they are resolved quickly and delicately. Ignoring or avoiding conflict is not the answer; instead, accept it and work to address it right away. Erin Wortham, former director of talent at Headspring, suggested that leaders should encourage open dialogue during these discussions to help resolve the issue. Cornelia Gamlem and Barbara Mitchell, authors of The Essential Workplace Conflict Handbook, also noted that getting to the root of a problem requires honest conversations and a bit of detective work.
When Larry Ellison, founder and CEO of Oracle, and its Chief Operating Officer, Ray Lane, had a disagreement in 2000, it was widely reported in the media. This example shows how important it is for the highest-ranking team member to manage conflicts in a way that preserves harmony in the workplace. In addition to the CEO, other roles such as program directors, directors of people development, and directors of knowledge can also help resolve conflicts. For example, Monique Burns was the program director at Oracle and was responsible for selecting, training, and training new leaders.
As a doctor who was promoted from medical director to emergency department, Allan had experience in operations which could be useful in managing conflicts between departments or teams. Overall, it is essential for CEOs to take responsibility for resolving conflicts between departments or teams within an organization. Encouraging open dialogue and honest conversations can help get to the root of the problem and ensure that harmony is maintained in the workplace.
