All organizations face trust issues and conflict. Most of us would like more trust and less conflict; or, if there is to be conflict, we would like productive conflict. These concerns are usually "off our screen" until they present themselves as a problem. 

Once the "problem" is acknowledged leaders frequently find themselves doing too much or too little. We may by an overreaction move a low lever conflict into a full scale blow out; or by responding slowly and partially allow a conflict to fester and expand itself. Leaders also find that their ability to play a constructive role may be limited because they are part of the conflict or trust problem, or at least they are being seen that way. 

Something to Do

Bring in ODCT for an initial consultation just to get a reading on the situation. We will work with you in assessing the level of conflict and exploring options. Conflict can draw an organization's energy away from its goals. The sooner leaders focus on the situation and explore appropriate action, the better.

Something Else to Consider

You might consider working with ODCT in creating a process in which you actively work at establishing a trusting, productive organizational culture. This is more than just heading off conflict. It is developing the organization's capacity for trust, including:

• Learning the relationship between trust and productivity
• Improving the organization's processes, structures and climate for --  the incorporation of people into the primary task of the organization; more timely and useful information flow; the ways in which decisions are explored and made; and engaging people's commitment and capacity for self-management
• Creating an improvement process norm and competence (decreasing the fear/blame cycle and increasing the improvement cycle)
• Work at establishing the attitudes and behaviors that build trust -- openness, acceptance, reliability and congruence

An effort to increase your organization's competence for trust and productivity is a particular expression of total system development.