“I Love Conflict”
OK……this may be a bit of an overstatement. A better way of saying this may be that I love what happens to relationships and organizations when conflict is exposed. Let me explain.
When I was younger, I tended to avoid conflict. If a conflict arose, I would try to avoid it or gloss it over.
What I now understand is that it is a blessing when conflicts arise. They probably have been brewing for a while and have caused stress, anxiety, and even sleepless nights. Relationships have been strained, teams are not performing at their best, and hurtful things may have been shared.
Once conflict is out in the open, we can deal with whatever is bothering our family, friends, or employees. It gives us the opportunity to become an agent of change, affecting relationships and cultures in a positive and constructive way.
Here are some helpful conflict reminders:
- Conflict that is not addressed can become a relational and organizational cancer.
- Life happens. Conflict and disagreement happen. They are a natural part of our human condition.
- All conflicts are not created equal. Did someone not make coffee this morning or is the reactor melting down? Perspective is a good thing.
- Mutual respect and treating others as we’d like to be treated are a must for healthy conflict resolution. Put yourself in other people’s shoes.
- Whenever possible, confront the issue, not the person.
- The best marriages, teams, and relationships welcome and expect conflict. They actively work to leverage conflict to improve their relationships and team performance.
