#Teams365 #601: Potential Sources of Conflict in Matrix Teams

Matrix leadership and team arrangements are becoming much ore common place today. Once only relegated to project and global teams, matrix arrangements are much more common-place. It can be important to recognize acknowledge potential sources of conflict, so that you are aware of them and can mitigate.

Here's a list of potential sources of conflict in matrix teams include:
* Conflict between local level priorities and global or project priorities
* Conflict between direction and style of local leader and matrix leader
* Style conflict
* Potential conflict on multiple levels around communication styles - direct versus indirect communication - (refer to Geert Hofstede's Culture scales)
* Conflict created by working across multiple time zones which can impact meeting times, and perceived facoritism
* Conflict around resourcing (perceived and real)
* Conflict around team membership - my "local" team and my "project" team
* Conflict around team culture - how things are done on different teams and what's acceptable and not

These are just a small representation of potential conflicts created in the matrix environment. What is important is to equip team members with enhanced skills in working across differences and recognizing your impact with others.

What do you see as possible conflicts which could emerge in your matrix work?

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Mentor RoadMap(TM)
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