Conflict Management 101 For MNCs

Apr 21

As multinational corporations (MNCs) continue to expand their global reach, unique challenges come to the forefront that impedes their potential for growth. The nature of their business requires them to navigate diverse cultures, languages, and expectations that can often lead to conflicts within the organisation.

These conflicts can not only harm productivity and morale but also tarnish the reputation of the organisation. What can MNCs turn to in their bid to resolve these unique conflicts before they escalate into something irreparable? One solution is corporate team-building.

In this article, let’s explore how even corporate team-building in Singapore can help global teams in MNCs tackle some common areas of conflict that are unique to MNCs:

How MNCs Can Minimise Conflict with Corporate Team-Building

1. Communication & Language Barriers

Language and communication barriers are two of the most significant challenges MNCs face. Misunderstandings and cultural differences can cause conflicts that are difficult to resolve.

According to a survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit, 90% of executives reported that language barriers led to misunderstandings, and 30% said that misunderstandings had led to a loss of business.

Corporate team-building can help bridge these gaps by encouraging open communication, breaking down language barriers, and fostering an inclusive environment where employees feel heard and understood.

2. Conflicting Working Styles

Another area that can cause tension in MNCs is conflicting work styles and expectations. According to a study by McKinsey & Company, diverse teams can outperform homogeneous teams by up to 35%.

This only goes to show that diversity (especially in terms of working styles) is not a liability but an asset. MNCs require high-performing teams to meet their targets; and diversity, not uniformity, is the key to unlocking high-performing teams.

However, diverse teams can also experience more conflict if not managed properly. This is where corporate team-building comes into the picture. The corporate team-building workshops in Singapore conducted by us focus on helping teams identify these differences and encourage team members to work together to find common ground.

3. Cross-Collaboration Challenges Across Borders

Multinational corporations also face challenges with teamwork and collaboration across borders. Employees may be working in different time zones, and coordinating work can be a logistical nightmare. According to a study by Harvard Business Review, remote workers can feel isolated and disconnected from their colleagues, leading to decreased productivity and job satisfaction.

Corporate team-building activities can help facilitate remote collaboration by encouraging employees to work together and communicate effectively. For instance, team-building activities that involve virtual challenges or online games can help employees build relationships and develop their collaboration skills in a virtual environment.

Final Thoughts

In today's highly competitive business landscape, corporate team-building can give MNCs a competitive advantage and contribute indirectly to their bottom line. According to a report by The Economic Times, companies that invest in team-building activities see a 22% increase in productivity, a 50% boost in employee morale, and a 28% reduction in employee turnover. However, when it comes to MNCs, the benefits of such corporate team-building become even more pronounced.

If you are a HR professional in an MNC and you are wondering how to get your global teams to work together, get in touch with our dedicated corporate team-building consultants, who are ever-ready to design the ideal workshop that meets your needs!

Written by Rachel Chai

Connectedness • Empathy • Strategic • Belief • Context

Rachel is a Strengths School™ Certified Strengths Trainer and the Content Lead at Strengths School™. Being deeply introspective, she believes in helping others draw connections between how their unique strengths play out in their lives.

We are corporate team-building specialists based in Singapore, equipping in-person, virtual, and hybrid teams with practical tools to maximise collaboration and minimise conflict. Trusted by 600+ teams globally, our proven track record showcases our expertise in helping teams achieve their corporate team-building objectives.

Jason Ho

Jason is SouthEast Asia's 1st Gallup’s StrengthsFinder® Certified & Platinum Coach. He is both founder and principal coach in Strengths School™ (www.StrengthsSchool.com) and has over 7 years of corporate experience in training, development and performance coaching for MNCs, SMEs, schools & non-profit organisations. Jason has over 11,000 hours of experience in Personal development coaching and Management consultancy. He completed the PMC Certification (Practising Management Consultant) - a certification that is awarded by the SBACC (Singapore Business Advisors & Consultants Council) ensuring the high standards for Management Consultancy in Singapore. Jason sits on the NUS Business School panel as a StrengthsFinder® Advisor and assists in running the ‘Emerging Leaders Program’ for high performance business individuals. Jason has successfully led workshops and coaching programs for corporate organization such as DHL, Lee Jeans, Wrangler, Vans, VF Corp, National University of Singapore, NUS business School, Mininstry of Education and various schools and learning institutes. His passion to empower adults and youths alike in strengths is evident through his energy and enthusiasm in leading fun-filled workshops. There is never a dull moment when it come to sharing StrengthsFinder with others as he believes that with the correct mix of humour in a session, the participants get the most learning. As a strengths coach, his top 5 strengths make the coaching journey light and enjoyable but yet deep and meaningful. Clients leave having a heightened level of self-awareness that is empowering and gives new direction in life. At Strengths School™, he pushes the strengths movement in Singapore, HongKong and Asia. He believes that once people discover their StrengthsFinder talents, they become more of who they were made to be, rather than try to be someone that they are not. He is extremely passionate about StrengthsFinder and if you have a chance to talk to him about it, you would experience first hand how extreme that passion is.

https://www.coachjasonho.com