Five Good Things about Conflict

Conflict can foster innovation by forcing us to ask what is possible and prompt us to generate ideas to resolve a dispute. Read these three short blog posts where the author outlines the benefits of conflict in the workplace, such as recognizing that the status quo is not working and fostering creativity. The third entry offers some suggestions for managing conflict.

Five Good Things about Conflict

Managers spend 40 to 90 percent of their time dealing with conflict. It makes sense to get the most out of such a time-consuming activity.

Tug of war between puppies. Conflict is a wake-up call that the status quo isn't working.


Leadership Freak readers indicate that conflict can serve a good purpose. Doc wisely observes, "Do we need to 'resolve' conflict? From conflicts and discomfort comes the clear need to change, make progress, and grow."  (You make conflict worse when you …) He and others made me think about the good side of conflict.


Five Good Things about Conflict


1. Conflict Causes Pain

Many observe that we do not change until the pain of clinging to the present seems worse than the pain of changing.

When conflict motivates self-reflection and change, it is a good thing.


2. Conflict Pushes Against Inertia

Individuals and organizations usually tend to stagnate.

Conflict is a wake-up call that the status quo is not working.


3. Conflict May End Negative Relationship-Cycles

Conflict motivates us to enhance our people skills. When I see a pattern of conflict in my own relationships or those around me, it is time to address counter-productive relationship patterns.


4. Working to Solve Conflict Encourages Creativity and Innovation.

Innovation is the potential for conflict.


5. Conflict Challenges Teams to Refresh Team Dynamics

Without conflict, teams may drift into mediocrity.


Two suggestions

1. Confidence in ourselves and others helps relieve some of the stress conflicts cause. Believe you can find a solution.

2. Focusing on organizational or personal mission and vision helps explain, direct, and give meaning to conflict.

What's good about conflict?


Source: Dan Rockwell, https://leadershipfreak.blog/2020/12/05/whats-good-about-conflict/
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.