In the workplace, conflict is to be expected—and that’s not necessarily a bad thing, though most of us think of it that way. From past experience, we’ve been trained to see conflict as destructive; it tears people apart and creates all kinds of negative outcomes. Handled poorly, conflict can damage your relationships, decrease productivity, harm your reputation, and cause a great deal of stress for everyone involved.
However, when handled in the right way, conflict can actually be constructive—it can help you build deeper, richer relationships. In the workplace, it can yield a more dynamic conversation that results in better decisions and more creative solutions. The art of constructive conflict is, indeed, an essential skill for any career-minded professional to master.
As a participant, you will learn…
- What is a “conflict” and how to recognize when you’re in one
- The essential elements you must bring to the table to turn a destructive conflict into a constructive one
- The specific steps to take before, during and after the conversation to make it a productive and positive experience
- How to make sure emotions don’t derail the conversation