Want a Healthy Workplace? Don’t Discourage Conflict
- Hanif Lalani
- May 10, 2022
- 2 min read
We all know what it feels like when you come in conflict with somebody else. Although in most scenarios it is likely that we are not in any real danger, when met with a disagreeing party our body will naturally react in the way that evolution has trained it to. Our fight-or-flight self-protection mechanism activates, sending adrenaline pumping through our body in the preparation to either run away very fast or engage in a battle for our life. We may clam up or start shaking as blood is rushed from our extremities to our vital organs and we suddenly become reactionary: our voices raise and we may say things hastily that we don’t really mean, resulting in hurt feelings and potentially irreparable damage to relationships. Put simply, it’s no wonder so many of us want to avoid conflict at all costs.
However, as unpleasant as conflict can seem at times it is important to also recognize that like our reaction to it, conflict is a natural aspect of the human condition. Disagreements are inevitable, and it is important to remember that while they may feel uncomfortable, they are also a normal and healthy part of relating to other people. This can be an especially hard pill to swallow within a work environment where relationships and interactions with those around you can make or break a career, but there is no such thing as a conflict-free work environment. Of course, we can dream of a utopian society in which everybody always gets along, but in reality it is important to remember that conflict can in fact spur innovation in ways that unanimous agreement never will.
The workplace needs to be a dynamic environment. That is how it can grow, change, develop new solutions and thrive. However, many of us today have also come to equate disagreements with being rude or unkind, making it all the more difficult for us to work past their animal reactions and state their opinion. However, when approached in a constructive way, conflict is in fact a way of showing the person you disagree with that you respect them enough to trust that they will understand where you are coming from and work to come to a solution. Conflict will be a regular part of every aspect of our lives, and the more we make ourselves comfortable with conflict the better equipped we can be at handling it. Below are some of the ways that healthy conflict can positively affect the workplace and help us become more successful business people as a result.
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