LEADERSHIP
Your Team Needs Conflict
Productive Conflict Begets Innovation-only If You Manage It Correctly
Conflict is common in the workplace — we are all individuals with different thoughts and opinions. We might disagree with someone’s idea. Sometimes, we fail to come to a consensus during a meeting. Other times, everyone has different opinions and there is no clear winner.
The idea of conflict in the workplace can seem exclusively negative; most people are non-confrontational and having conflicts can potentially ruin relationships. As such, the opposite is viewed as good. Yet, peace may not always be good. In reality, businesses are powered by an equilibrium of peace and conflict. At times, conflict is even encouraged.
Here is why: the focus is not on the conflict itself.
Undeniably, the image of conflict involves many inherently undesirable things. It comprises arguments, disagreements, and inevitable tensions. Then, there is the problem of the aftermath: are relationships going to be awkward? Will interactions remain the same after? Will it impact the team as a whole? As such, it is easier to remain a pacifist than to confront, even if it means having a terrible idea being put to execution.
