The Pure Power Of Positive Conflict

Sad but true - life inside the cube is usually seen as an strife. Negative conflict, whether according to interpersonal differences or political maneuvering, abounds. Ironically, for organizations to step-up and reach their potential they need more conflict, not less. Here's the hook - we require more positive conflict and much less negative conflict. click here to read is overly emotional, usually unnecessarily personal, and according to opinions and bad assumptions. Negative conflict, and in addition, is actually never related to positive outcomes at work. visit our website is a bit more honestly rational than emotional, usually according to real issues not interpersonal differences, and rooted in objective facts. Want real innovation and improvement? You need three things: more positive conflict (and much less negative conflict), better conflict management skills within the organization, plus a solid "no jerk" rule.
More positive and fewer negative conflict
These are separate but closely related ideas. Let's start while using negative. If you're a leader and you genuinely value improving your group and organization, to any extent further you personally shoulder the duty to on-site visit - in real time, promptly - all clear cases of unproductive negative conflict. See https://splice.com/gillespieeskildsen6 , step in and discuss it, and clearly state to people involved why it becomes an demonstration of unproductive negative conflict that can not be part of our work culture advancing. Be kind, be positive, be of use - yes, but do it. If you see the installments of ugly negative conflict pop up and you relax to deal with it, you will not have a very work place able to capitalizing on positive conflict. Assuming negative examples are in check, positive conflict is principled debating, questioning of assumptions, fact based sparring. As a leader, you encourage and facilitate this positive and aggressive kind of dialogue. Don't forget - you need to be questioned too, your testamonials are not not allowed if it is time for it to enter into debate mode.
Hone those conflict management skills
If the thing is usually to maximize the contribution of positive conflict, you must arm your team to cope with positive conflict. There are many external and internal approaches, but the point is easy: most people are not naturally wired to effectively navigate conflict filled situations. The good news is the are skills that could be quickly acquired. Training on this sort will increase your team's capability to keep conversations positive and fact-based, to call out unacceptable emotional levels, to identify and prioritize whether certain concern is really worth the effort required for positive conflict, to have the correct people involved inside conversation, specify tactics for safely asserting one's point and then for honestly validating others' points, etc. For well chosen employees, a couple of days spent working through these tactics via reading, discussions and experiential activities will pay huge dividends for your team.
No jerks allowed
It is, however, not just about your team - it is more about you. Any time you permit more than one website visitors to significantly and/or persistently deviate from your major behavioral norm (such as shunning negative conflict so that you can build positive conflict), you've wasted your whole effort. When principled folks your team watch you allow a couple of individuals always participate in negative conflict without any consequences, you're toast. If you want to be serious, you can't play favorites or turn your back on conflict. The rule should be clear and respected by all - no jerks allowed. Negative emotions spread as being a virus at work. One lone jerk, in a position to be considered a jerk anytime, will spoil the morale in a group quickly.
In short, for a moment strongly encourage your direct reports to start out enforcing the ban on negative conflict, find some resources to aid your entire group build some well-versed conflict management skills, and if you personally will model the correct behaviors by not allowing any jerks to flourish, you should have made great strides towards realizing the pure power of positive conflict for the organization.