Good Leaders Don’t Avoid Conflict
When people respond too quickly, they often respond to the wrong issue. Listening helps us focus on the heart of the conflict. When we listen, understand, and respect each other’s ideas, we can then find a solution in which both of us are winners. – Dr. Gary Chapman
Why do we avoid conflict and confrontation so much? I pose this question because, depending upon the situation or the person, I tend to lean towards being non-confrontational. Still, good leaders embrace conflict and confrontation and know when to pick their battles. If you manage people or are a leader in your organization and think that everything will always be perfect, chances are you are driving the bus with your eyes closed. What I mean is there is probably a morale issue that you don’t know about or choose to ignore. Your team probably doesn’t trust each other, and there is a high probability that they also don’t trust you because you allow the conflict to fester, making achieving team goals unattainable.
Conflict resolution fosters stronger relationships and builds trust within teams
Ignoring conflict can lead to unresolved issues, causing team relationships to be strained. This leads to a lack of cohesive efforts and team members operating more in silos rather than together on projects. Collaboration becomes hard to encourage, and the team’s morale suffers tremendously. Team members begin to walk on eggshells, and the communication among team members will continue to break down. Guiding team members when conflict arises reduces tension, builds trust among team members, and encourages them to collaborate more often. Leaders must encourage team members to collaborate and bring their differences. When you can sit down and hear all sides instead of just a single opinion, your creative juices start flowing, and the outcome is more collaborative than one-sided. This collaborative process also allows team members and stakeholders a chance to have more of a say in processes, which in turn makes them feel like they own the process, the product, or the outcome; when they push the, I believe button, they can get other members of the team to adopt methods and outcomes as well.
Conflict resolution skills are essential for effective leadership development
Leaders often encounter challenges that involve conflicting opinions, interests, and goals among team members and stakeholders within and outside of the organization. When leaders develop ways to address disagreement, differences, and tensions constructively, they preserve cohesion and harmony. Being skilled in conflict resolution teaches leaders and team members to refrain from taking things personally and focus more on how differing opinions can contribute to team goals. When you understand conflict, you can manage it more directly; you can manage people and processes better, and you can collaboratively achieve team goals. When you understand conflict, you can focus less on team issues because there will be less, and you can focus more on team goals. When leaders encourage their team to engage in healthy conflict resolution, it builds trust and credibility among team members and makes the team more productive.
I stated before that I don’t enjoy conflict; I don’t think anyone likes it. However, I believe some people start conflicts because they are analytical, and some are better at resolving conflict than others. Healthy conflict is good. Healthy conflict is when team members have differing opinions, and they come together to solve a problem, develop a plan, start a new process, etc. Unhealthy conflict is terrible. This is when team members cannot conclude together. The ability to resolve conflicts is not just a desirable trait for leaders to have; it is an essential skill that leaders need for their own professional and personal development. Embracing conflict provides growth opportunities, fosters open communication, and prioritizes a resolution for disagreements. Leaders who are well-versed in conflict resolution can cultivate environments filled with trust, collaboration, and innovation. These leaders are also empowered to navigate challenges, build stronger relationships, and make informed decisions that drive positive outcomes. Those who desire to lead one day should recognize why developing conflict resolution skills are essential. These skills help leaders commit to continuous growth and development to excel and lead winning teams.
