Reflections
CONFLICTS IN THE MARKETPLACE:
AN APPLICATION OF MATTHEW AND PHILIPPIANS
By Jack Harshbarger
Conflicts are here to stay! Conflicts can result from a number of causes having to do with communications, personality differences, and real differences. The only relevant question is: How are we going to deal with the conflicts? To examine this question, let us look at two cases; a Christian business owner and a Christian supervisor.
From a Christian business owner's perspective the solution should be clear: apply Matthew 18:15-17. But you say, how do I do this in the business setting? The Christian business owner should first explain the conflict resolution process and its origins in the Bible. The process might look like the following: first, the two parties with a conflict should attempt resolution. Failure at this level (after careful self-examination by both parties) should be followed by a meeting with the parties at conflict and the supervisor/manager. Failure at this second level would be followed by a meeting with a wider group of seasoned managers/employees. Assuming the group is able to reach some agreement, both parties wold be instructed appropriately. During this process it is critical that another biblical principle be applied-no murmuring to others about the conflict or results from any of the meetings (Philippians 2:14). Spreading the details of the conflict, correct or incorrect, damages the chances for biblical resolution. Unfortunately, there are strong tendencies at work here within many of us-listening to and telling stories about conflicts. Jesus, deliver us! One thing I have found that helps is to instruct all employees not to receive information from parties who have entered into the Matthew 18:15-17 process, and if you are not sure-then ask! Fortunately, God understands our tendencies around conflicts and has provided these principles to allow conflicts to be settled biblically.
What if a supervisor is a Christian, but management above and employees below are non- Christian? Can the Christian supervisor still apply Matthew 18:15-17? Should the supervisor apply the principle? The answer depends on your world view. If the Christian supervisor believes that the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, and that he/she should be making disciples (even before the employees are born again), then the answer is yes! Let me explain why. Based on my experience in several different situations over the last seven years, employees can be instructed in all of the principles without making reference to the Bible. In the early going the supervisor will need to be vigilant to monitor the implementation of the principles since they will most likely be new to the employees-this would be true for the Christian business owner example as well. What I have seen is that most of the conflicts are resolved effectively and peaceably somewhere between the 1st and 2nd level meetings. Unfortunately, my experience with Christians has not really been any better with respect to application of these two principles. In most cases (Christian and non-Christian alike) people need help in how to confront another person about an issue. This is where the supervisor can help again by making sure the employee is taught some of the how-to's for conflict resolution, which are based on respect, withholding judgment and love. In both cases we have developed here, the supervisor needs to resist the temptation to respond to one employee who has an issue, but has not talked with the other employee. The supervisor could potentially get "trapped" in the middle or prematurely accept one point of view on the issue. Having managed things this way for most of my career, I can tell you this approach does not work well. When I first started to implement the principles, correction was applied swiftly when Matthew 18:15-17 and Philippians 2:14 were not followed. This helped the rest of the employees get the message. Of course, over time the supervisor needs to maintain some level of vigilance. For example, new employees may enter the group and the supervisor should assume they are not familiar with the two principles.
The benefits from the application of Matthew 18:15-17 and Philippians 2:14 to employees and the business are numerous.
Employees benefit through:
- learning to be more accountable
- improved communication skills developed as they solve conflicts
- lower job related stress-given a clear process for resolution of conflicts at work
- deepened relationships
Business benefits by:
- not having to do damage control after the fact on an issue that has spread throughout the office
- increased productivity through reduction of time spent resolving conflicts
- increased morale.
In conclusion, we see that God's principle can be effective in the marketplace; people are discipled and matured; and the various resolution situations may provide an opportunity for someone to be drawn to Christ through questioning the source of such wisdom.
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