Dr. Zsofia Margittai
Leadership and teamwork – Resolve conflicts, unlock your employees' full potential
In stressful times, under pressure to perform and in a volatile market , conflicts, misunderstandings and unfavorable communication patterns arise in many companies. Employees often feel unfairly treated, managers feel helpless in dealing with employees who do not appear to be pulling in the same direction and conflicts between colleagues make effective collaboration difficult. In such moments it is unfortunately often forgotten that everyone is pursuing the same goal: to do their job as best as possible, to advance their careers and to make the company successful. Instead of harmonious, productive collaboration , problematic interaction patterns arise that not only make working more difficult but also create distance between employees and managers and strain the team structure. With targeted communication training and effective conflict management companies can improve communication, increase motivation and promote productive collaboration.
Furthermore, in many cases, the problem arises that individual employees fail to realize their full potential. Although they are competent and possess in-depth specialist knowledge, they fail to communicate this content successfully to colleagues, superiors, or customers. This leads to them underachieving, winning fewer customers, or failing to assert themselves in certain situations. In such cases, targeted communication training can be extremely helpful in overcoming inefficient and problematic communication styles and preventing professional success.
How can I help your company improve communication and conflict management
1. Consulting Services in Conflict Management:
Objective: Support in identifying, analyzing, and resolving conflicts within the company, both at the team and leadership levels.
Services:
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Conflict Analysis: Conducting interviews, surveys, and workshops to identify existing conflicts and their causes.
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Development of Solution Strategies: Creating individual solutions and preventive measures.
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Moderation: Facilitating conflict discussions between employees or leaders.
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Crisis Intervention: Quick and targeted support in acute conflict situations.
2. Coaching for Leaders and Teams:
Objective: Improve communication skills and conflict resolution capabilities through individual and team-oriented coaching approaches.
Services:
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Individual Coaching for Leaders: Helping leaders develop their communication and conflict management skills. Focus on fostering empathy, active listening, and the ability to recognize and resolve conflicts early.
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Team Coaching: Improving collaboration and communication within teams. Developing positive, respectful dialogue to resolve conflicts and foster a constructive work environment.
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Effective Communication for Employees: Communication training for confident, goal-oriented communication, enabling employees to convey their ideas clearly and assertively, collaborate effectively in teams, and contribute to the company's efficiency and revenue growth.
3. Trainings and Workshops:
Objective: Providing practical communication and conflict resolution strategies for all employees.
Services:
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Communication and Conflict Management Workshops: Theoretical foundations and practical exercises in effective communication, nonviolent communication, and conflict management.
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Team Building and Collaboration: Promoting cooperation and trust within the team to improve the work climate and reduce conflicts.
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Efficient and Confident Communication: Training for employees to improve efficient and confident communication both internally within the company and externally with clients.
Additional services:
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Follow-Up and Evaluation: After the consulting or coaching phase, I offer follow-up conversations to assess the sustainability of the measures.
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Online Coaching: For companies with remote work environments, I also offer online coaching and virtual workshops.
Case study: Manager under pressure
Situation: Performance pressure leads to an irritable communication style
Michael is a head of department in a medium-sized company and a fundamentally empathetic and committed person. He is highly competent in his work and attaches great importance to the success of his department. However, due to high performance pressure and an increasing workload, his communication style is beginning to change. In stressful situations, he becomes increasingly irritable, impulsive, and unfriendly, especially when things don't go according to plan or deadlines are missed.
Problem: Little insight into one’s own unfavourable communication patterns and their consequences
Although Michael never intends to insult or demotivate his employees, his communication style has become increasingly aggressive in recent months. He often criticizes his employees in front of the entire team, shows little understanding for their problems, and makes them feel unappreciated for their work. This makes employees feel devalued and under pressure. Many of them withdraw, no longer daring to give him feedback or voice their concerns.
Because Michael fails to notice his team's dissatisfaction, the problems escalate. Employees are unmotivated, feel mistreated, and frequently call in sick. They avoid making decisions or taking initiative for fear of being criticized. Michael himself is frustrated by the rising number of sick days and is under even greater pressure, which makes him even more impulsive and frustrated. A vicious cycle develops because he continues to fail to recognize that his communication style is a significant contributor to his employees' demotivation.
Solution: Friendly, confident communication
After the works council becomes aware of the situation and receives numerous complaints about communication and the working atmosphere in Michael's department, a communication training session is organized. Michael is encouraged to participate in the training to reflect on and improve his communication style.
During the training, Michael learns the importance of remaining calm and respectful in stressful situations. He discovers how his unfriendly and irritable manner destroys the trust and motivation of his employees. Michael learns how to handle difficult situations more constructively by actively listening, responding empathetically, and using clear, respectful language to communicate his expectations and concerns without hurting others.
Result: Appreciation and empathetic communication promotes productivity
After the communication training, Michael begins to treat his employees with more appreciation and respect. He recognizes the importance of creating an open and transparent atmosphere for discussion, where everyone feels safe to express their opinions. Employees feel heard, are more motivated, and begin to perform their work with greater commitment. The number of sick days decreases significantly, and the department's productivity increases. Michael can now approach his employees without encountering criticism or negative reactions, leading to a significant improvement in the working atmosphere.