Avoid the Crunch

Unresolved pinches become crunches. Pinches are can be resolved with out too much effort. Crunches are more difficult. They can be resolved. The peace is often fractured.

I have been in crunches before. Some of them have been resolved more or less; at least the situation had changed enough that as far a business, there’s no problem.

There are other crunches where there was no way to restore the trust. That is except to remember that you can always trust a scorpion to be a scorpion.

Crunches require extra effort. Both parties have to want to resolve the issue. Keep in mind, that if the pinch has not been dealt with in the first place, one of the parties may not know that a crunch even exists. For them, this may only be a pinch.

If talking and mediation do not resolve the problem, both parties may have to ignore the problem (which can turn into apathy and cynicism). At some point, one or both parties my develop an exit strategy from the team or even organization.

As a leader, do not let pinches become crunches. If they do, be prepared for the long haul. It will take a lot of effort and patience to make the team whole. A wise leader may provide one or both parties a chance to work with another team, if the leader feels the parties are worth keeping.