What is Good about Conflict?
Conflict can push us to foster innovation by forcing us to ask what is possible and prompt us to generate ideas that resolve a conflict. Read this short article, where the author outlines five ways conflict can benefit the workplace, such as by fostering creativity.
One author suggests that managers may spend up to 50 percent of their time dealing with conflict. With that in mind, it makes sense to get the most out of such a time-consuming activity.
Leadership Freak readers indicate that conflict can serve a good purpose. Doc wisely observes, "Do we really need to 'resolve' conflict? From many conflicts and discomfort comes the clear need to change, progress, and grow". He and others made me think about the good side of conflict.
Five Good Things about Conflict
- 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. If conflict motivates us to change for the better, it is a good thing.
- Conflict may push against inertia. Individuals and organizations usually tend to stagnate. Conflict is a wake-up call that the status quo is not working.
- Conflict may end negative relationship-cycles by motivating 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.
- Working to solve conflict is the fertile soil of creativity and innovation. Innovation is the potential for conflict.
- Conflict challenges teams to refresh team dynamics. Without conflict, teams may drift along producing mediocre results.
Two suggestions
- Confidence in ourselves and others helps relieve some of the stress conflict causes. Believe you can find a solution.
- Focusing on an organizational or personal mission and vision helps explain, direct, and give meaning to conflict.
Source: Dan Rockwell, https://leadershipfreak.blog/2010/12/04/what%E2%80%99s-good-about-conflict/
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.