title: Part 2, Conflict management. How to shape positive relationships in medical practices and hospitals.
abstract: Managing workplace conflict is one of the most important, stressful, and time-consuming tasks faced by today's physician leaders. In Part 1 of this article series, the authors describe how to assess an organization's interpersonal dynamics. True change comes from interventions that help an organization to become a positive interpersonal culture, one that fosters cooperation and collaboration. Part 2 offers seven steps to solving the disruptive physician problem: (1) provide protection to complainants; (2) listen, empathize, and avoid communication triangles; (3) confront offenders with data, authority, and compassion; (4) if needed, get outside help; (5) offer workplace training and experiences that foster positive relationships; (6) follow-up; and (7) practice what you preach. The self-assessment and intervention guidelines discussed in this series of articles can help physician executive move beyond struggling with episodes of conflict to shaping stress-resilient medical organizations.
authors.affiliation: wsotile@ibm.net
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Sotile
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Sotile
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D017008:Negotiating; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010559:Personnel Management / Q000379:methods*; D008486:Physician Executives; D014481:United States