Disagreements and Conflicts

Introduction

No matter how great you are at communication, there will come a time and place when a disagreement arises. As an effective communicator, it is your job to avoid potential disagreements before a situation escalates to a problem, as well as to employ conflict resolution techniques once a disagreement has occurred. This skill set – that of conflict resolution – is one of the best attributes you can bring to your job, your social life, and your family.

Is Conflict Always Bad?

You may believe that in an ideal world, you would never have to engage in conflict resolution because conflict would never occur in the first place. However, there are times and places when conflict and disagreements can actually improve a situation. Different cultures place different values on conflict. In some cultures – especially the U.S. business community – conflict can be considered a sign of strength and power.

Although conflict that escalates to real problems and hurt feelings is not good for the workplace, moderate conflict can introduce variety. Two team members with widely divergent views may butt heads from time to time, but the chances are that the electricity that occasionally sparks between them has the potential to produce innovative ideas. Many modern business even capitalize on this idea as a way to compete and gain an edge in the market.

However, for the sake of effective communication, disagreements and conflicts do not create an ideal scenario. While it may be better to step back from minor disagreements and controlled conflict, which may have the potential to turn into great ideas, you should always be prepared to step in to stop things from escalating or becoming a serious problem.