How to Resolve Conflict in Organizations

5Interpersonal conflict

Projection

I once had an interesting experience in a client of mine in the UK. He was a senior manager, the IT Manager; I have written about him in another context in the Introduction. He was ex-special forces personnel but wasn’t, at the time I knew him, really performing. I had had a hand in recruiting him and had misgivings about the wisdom of my advice. He famously did not get on with his boss (who was also my main client in the system). One day, the IT Manager and I were chatting and he started complaining about his boss. He criticized the boss’ lack of communication, lack of vision, lack of management skills. Some days later, I was interviewing one of the IT Manager’s direct reports. He and, apparently, his colleagues ...