Respond from your gut to a single word CONFLICT.
This will be the first in a series of articles about this subject. What is conflict? Is conflict good or bad in the workplace? How can it be positive? What are the best methods for addressing conflict? What are the negative ways to manage conflict?
Conflict can be negative if handled incorrectly. It can divert attention and resources. It can undercut the best visions. It can derail the best leaders. Conflict management is a tremendous part of the leader’s responsibility.
Conflict can be a valuable part of the leadership process. When dissent is managed well, it permits the different voices to be heard and evaluated in the interest of doing what is right for the organization. When dissent is mismanaged, it becomes a lever for enemies to destroy each other and, in the process, do harm to their team and their organization.
Conflict can be positive if the tension is creative. Peter Senge in The Fifth Discipline describes what he calls “creative tension,” identifying a gap between where you are and where you want to go.
When we asked people, “How does conflict at work usually make you feel?” over a third said it made them feel anxious, depressed, fearful, or stressed; a fifth said awkward or uncomfortable, 18 percent said angry, annoyed, or frustrated; and 13 percent said demotivated, discouraged, or helpless. But in response to that question, 10 percent said that depending on the situation, conflict can be useful and positive. (Source Online Article “Helping Managers Handle Conflict” by John Hackston)
If you are a leader, you must be a conflict manager. In the previously mentioned study a question was asked, “How important is conflict handling as a leadership or management skill? 72 percent of respondents said that it was extremely important, and 26 percent said it was very important—that’s 98 percent, almost everyone.”
Engage coaching and consulting offers multiple resources specifically designed to help you lead through the conflict. Check out the MBTI and DiSC resources. Also take the Grow: Strength Builders Inventory to assess all your leadership strengths. Reach out so that we can discuss the needs in your company, business, or organization and how we can help.
Consider three truths about conflict in conclusion:
- Conflict is natural. Difficult people and circumstances will arise. Do not be surprised.
- Conflict is neutral. Be careful not to jump to a conclusion that the person or the issue is only negative. It is neither destructive nor constructive.
- Conflict is normal. It happens to all of us.
Watch future articles for more information.
