At work, rapidly changing environments create a ripe atmosphere for stress, anxiety and conflict. Where there's conflict, there's opportunity for growth. However, the experience creates a learning opportunity many leaders dread.
When conflict occurs you can act in four different ways:
- You can play the victim and act betrayed. You can complain to those who will listen and create alliances against the offending party. This rarely works although most organizations have people actively engaging in such passive-aggressive behaviors rather than addressing conflict directly.
- You can withdraw, either by physically leaving the situation, or by emotionally and mentally disengaging. This may involve walking out of a heated meeting, moving to a new unit or team, or quitting the company.
- You can change yourself. Most people never even consider this option because it involves backing down from your original stance. For people involved in personal battles, who are attached to core limiting beliefs, this is tantamount to failure. For others who are capable of looking at win-win possibilities, however, this option can open the door to creative solutions.
- You can confront each other honestly, openly and candidly. While this is the preferred option, this is the most difficult to put into practice. Too often people are afraid of conflict and don’t know how to work through issues successfully.
Be ready. Conflicts are inevitable. As a leader, you can work through them and turn conflicts into constructive results.