Phase III: Confronting

Symptoms
Interventions
Can no longer avoid conflicts; some members verbally attack other members
Bring team conflicts to team forum or process leader (if identified); process leader mediates between individuals.
Conflicts of leadership, equality, commitment increase
Identify, clarify, and assign informal leadership roles.
Members feel anxiety over expression of affect
Encourage expressions of affect – positive and negative.
Address some conflicts directly
Encourage the practice of constructive confrontation; focus on solutions to problems.
Some members withdraw from the team.
Review reasons for leaving; may be a symptom of team dysfunction.
Search starts for leader who will resolve conflicts.
Identify members with skills and willingness to assume role of process analyzer.
Functional leaders emerge
Identify and encourage informal leaders.
Realize that power is not equal
Identify all potential power sources.
Realize that everyone has power for leadership and decision making.
Encourage members to recognize and assume power sources they are capable of assuming.
Conflicts lead to constructive confrontation
Help the team (members) discuss and resolve conflicts; regard as opportunity for creative problem solving.
Team reclarifies goals and roles
As a team, update goals; discuss roles and agree.
Form coalitions that change according to needs of the team.
Praise this as sign of team’s growth.

©2000, Drinka, TJK and Clark, PG (2000) Health Care Teamwork: Interdsisciplinary Practice and Teaching. Westport CT, Auburn House. All rights reserved