Communication and in group working SkillsSSG104

TABLE OF CONTENT

I. Introduction
Working in groups is one of a reality of our lives and more so in the context of the diverse
workplace that everyone will have to navigate after graduation. Therefore, in overall
reflection, the “Communication and In-group Working Skills” is considered to be a
foundation course preparing for students like me to embark on our career journey. In my
learning reflection, the technique of “unsettling empathy” for group conflict context is the
lesson I value the most for my future career.

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II. Body of content
1.

Personal Reflection

One of the scariest things that I feel when doing group work is group conflict. So it spawned
one of my fatal weaknesses in following the ideas and conversations of the group, tolerating
and compromising my own ideas even though they were right. Or sometimes I will stand up
for myself and lead to unnecessary arguments when I always consider my idea to be the best.
Those ideas of teammates, which are deviated or challenged my ideas, would be considered as
a provocation.

2.

Conflict Resolution Technique

One of the secrets to resolving group conflicts that I learned from the course as well as the
self-study process throughout the course is the concept "unsettling empathy" to practice in the

context of group conflict. This practice was raised by Björn Krondorfer through his book,
"Unsettling Empathy: Working with Groups in Conflict".
The book is Björn conclusions drawn from his research of thousand group workings with
different contexts. His raised solutions are not the linear technique to directly solve group
conflict, but just simply as a guide to finding oneself in a place where our empathy is
considered “unsettled” (Dalal, F., 2021). What it means to be is the limitation in each of us
that we draw upon our empathy. But there will be some cases when empathy goes beyond the
"us" limit and understands for others - the "them" border (Dalal, F., 2021).
The process tells me that when we reach the “unsettling empathy” situation, it could be
intrigued and annoying since it challenges our value, belief, and the way we interpret and
attach meaning to things to accept the existence of someone else perspective (Dalal, F., 2021).
The advice I take granted for future conduct at the workplace is to have a broader view and
understanding of people, put ourselves in the context of others and try to make decisions from
their point of view. Those role-play decisions later should be jotted down for consideration. It
won't be as easy as it sounds, but getting the book has reassured my psyches that this feeling
is normal and not negative at all.

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III.

Conclusion

In future conduct, this technique would be further iteratively practiced by me, especially when
I have to team working with others in a professional environment. The decision that I make by
empathy in another perspective would be jotted down as evidence building on the argument of
my final decision choice presented in the group.

(493 words)

REFERENCE
Dalal, F. (2021). Book Review: Unsettling Empathy: Working with Groups in Conflict. Group
Analysis, 053331642110050. />
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