Create Through Conflict
Struggle well, together.
Conflict is inevitable. It's about how you manage it.Chapter 20, The Big Bold Mindset
Strong voices. Quiet voices.
The problems in the business were clear. The team needed fresh ideas, and everyone would need to step forward.
The CEO noticed that when things got heated, some people withdrew. They avoided tough conversations, sugar-coated the truth, and stayed on the surface.
Some people seem to thrive on conflict. Some run from it. The question was why, and what could be done differently.
Do you run towards conflict, or away?
How comfortable are you with conflict? Split 100 points across hate it, neutral and love it.
For example, 10-10-80 means you mostly embrace it. 90-10-0 means it makes you very uncomfortable.
What would your colleagues' numbers be? Your family's?
We each have our own relationship with conflict.
It's shaped by our experiences, personality, culture, skills, values and emotional intelligence. Once you're aware of yours, you can choose to change it.
Where it comes from
Experience
Conflicts that went well make us braver. Ones that went badly make us wary.
Culture
Some cultures value directness. Others value harmony.
Skills
With the skills to handle it, conflict becomes a chance to solve problems.
Indra Nooyi: disagreement as fuel
Nooyi took PepsiCo on a hard journey towards healthier products. It needed open debate across a huge organisation.
She encouraged constructive dialogue, valued diverse perspectives, and believed disagreements could lead to better ideas when handled with respect.
Be prepared for the grapple.Caspar Craven
Reflect, ask, act
Developing a healthier relationship with conflict is a personal journey. Three steps to start it.
Reflect
Bring to mind recent conflicts. Focus on what you did, not what others did. What patterns do you see?
Ask
Ask people you trust how you handle conflict. Ask for examples. Don't argue. Write it down.
Pick one thing
Journaling, a course, a new way of framing it. Run the experiment, then review.
Share your numbers
Share your hate, neutral and love numbers with one colleague and ask for theirs. Talk about what makes conflict easier or harder for each of you.
Get the quiet voices in
Don't let your best talent go quiet because of how they feel about conflict.
Want Caspar to take your team through this? casparcraven.com