Conflict resolution role-playing

Example 1: Used a teammate’s materials        

Raven had measured out specific lengths of fabric they would later use for laser cutting pattern pieces.

Owl thought they hit a goldmine when they found Raven’s fabrics sitting in their group’s cubby. Without asking whose fabric it was, Owl used the fabric for cutting their own pattern pieces.

Example 2: Canceling last minute

Frog and Dolphin were supposed to meet at 4pm to work on sewing some large pieces together. Frog showed up at 4pm and Dolphin texted at 3:58pm that something had come up and they weren’t going to be there. This was the third time something like this happened.

Example 3: Ignoring texts

Squirrel, Rabbit, and Robin are on a team together and decided that texting would be the best way to communicate. Squirrel sent a text to the group to schedule the next work session together. Robin replied an hour later. Rabbit replied three days later. By then Robin’s schedule had filled up and they were no longer available at all the times they had first indicated. Squirrel had left a lot of time open in their schedule to accommodate their teammates schedules, waiting to solidify the groups’ meeting was causing problems with other group projects they were trying to also schedule for. On other occasions, Rabbit didn’t reply to texts at all.

Example 4: Interrupting and Staying Silent        

Cat, Dog, Mouse, and Birdy are in a group together. All the members are creative, but they each have different temperaments. When Cat and Mouse get together to work on the project, Mouse repeatedly interrupts Cat when they are talking about the project. Separately, Dog and Birdy have been working on parts of the project together. Birdy offers lots of ideas and Dog has agreed with the ideas and is game to do them. Dog has not offered any additional ideas to the project. Birdy is feeling stuck with this dynamic.

Example 5: Sharing responsibilities

Leaf, Bark, and Root are in a group together. The group gets along well at first. After a while Root starts to notice that they are initiating the group work most of the time. Root was okay with this until the week that they were busy with interviews for their dream internship at a tree protection company. During that week, no group meetings or work sessions happened at all. Root is no longer okay with their unspoken role of group coordinator.

Tips:

Speak from I statements, listen, resist getting defensive, when needed: apologize, ask about a repair, share what you will do to prevent this in the future