Conflict Competency | LeadershipTraction

Conflict does not travel along a single path. It can. But it doesn’t have to. Depending on how we prepare for, react to, and deal with, conflict can be a positive experience … or not.

Not surprisingly, there are specific behaviors that determine what path conflicts take:

Task-focused, cognitive-based, problem-solving activities tend to increase the probability of deescalating and amicably resolving conflict.
Person-focused, emotionally-based, drama and over-personalization activities tend to increase the probability of escalating conflict further.

Furthermore, both constructive and destructive conflict responses can be categorized as being active or passive:

Constructive/Active Responses

Perspective Taking
Creating Solutions
Expressing Emotions
Reaching Out

Constructive/Passive Responses

Reflective Thinking
Delay Responding
Adapting

Destructive/Active Responses

Winning at All Costs
Displaying Anger
Demeaning Others
Retaliating

Destructive/Passive Responses

Avoiding
Yielding
Hiding Emotions
Self-Criticizing

Because conflict is such a central component of business, how well you do the Constructive/Active and Constructive/Passive behaviors – and how poorly you do the Destructive/Active and Destructive/Passive behaviors – will define your leadership success (and the leadership success of your direct reports) to a SIGNIFICANT degree.

Learn more from the Self Study Materials on Conflict Management provided in the LeadershipTraction website.