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Unit Leadership: Best Practices for Managing Unit Conflict

ID

VCE-1231NP

Authors as Published

Authored by Bethany Eigel, Associate Specialist Employee Development, Learning and Organizational Development, Virginia Cooperative Extension; and Stuart Vermaak, Unit Coordinator & Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, Loudoun County, Virginia Cooperative Extension

Introduction

Unit-level leadership positions within Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) carry a wide range of responsibilities. This publication draws from an online seminar series featuring unit leaders from across the state who share their insights, experiences, and guidance on key issues they manage as Unit Coordinators (UCs) or Unit Extension Directors (UEDs).

The content presented here - and in the accompanying tipsheets - is distilled from the UC Best Practices seminar series. It is intended to provide practical recommendations and strategies for individuals serving in unit leadership roles.

One key responsibility of VCE unit leader positions is to use a coaching style to motivate, encourage, and support unit staff. This leadership style fosters a positive work environment and promotes professional growth.

Supervisors are also responsible for managing interpersonal dynamics within the unit, including addressing and resolving conflicts. They provide guidance and support to agents and staff to help navigate and mitigate conflict, ensuring a collaborative and productive team culture.

Best Practices

  • Mitigate conflict by creating a positive team culture and feeling that‌
  • Foster a unified environment; the feeling that everyone in the unit office is on the same team.
  • Invite colleagues to programs and maintain consistent group connections.
  • Provide transparent communication, including shared calendars and office coverage.
  • Be accessible and approachable.‌
  • Establish procedures for payment approvals, leave, and timecards.
  • Maintain transparency with budgets and decisions affecting all unit staff.
  • Clearly communicate the scope of the UC/UED role to unit staff.
  • Hold quarterly feedback sessions with unit staff; provide an accolade and a growth opportunity.
  • Extend grace and treat others with empathy during difficult situations.‌
  • Identify the source of conflict and address it directly. Focus on shared goals, not individual positions.
  • Start with one-on-one conversations: ask questions and seek to understand.
  • Assume the best intentions and consider unseen perspectives.
  • Collaborate with the District Director (DD) and human resources to manage conflict, ideally with mutual agreement.
  • Utilize local resources such as alternative dispute resolution teams, if available.
  • Use peacemaking circles with facilitators and structured questions.
  • Documentation is critical; unit leaders should follow up any discussion with a written summary and any action items.

Challenges

  • UCs are not supervisors of unit agents.
  • Lack of formal authority to enforce resolutions.‌
  • Capacity for DDs to see and/or meaningfully address individual unit issues.
  • Tensions that arise specifically regarding budgetary and fiscal issues.

Practices to Avoid

  • Engaging in gossip; set expectations that gossip is unproductive.‌
  • Biases or judgment; consider each situation from multiple perspectives to deepen understanding of a conflict as much as possible.
  • Ignoring conflict instead of addressing it directly and in a timely manner.

Support & Resources

References

Hunnings, J., S. Mahdu, and A. Wood (2021). VCE Unit Coordinators Responsibilities. VCE Intranet https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hXHOySto9HLC yYfj7-1Az7VWhTdNhgWs/view

Virginia Cooperative Extension materials are available for public use, reprint, or citation without further permission, provided the use includes credit to the author and to Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, and Virginia State University.

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and local governments, and is an equal opportunity employer. For the full non-discrimination statement, please visit ext.vt.edu/accessibility. 

Publication Date

December 8, 2025

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