Looking back at an event I recently attended at Visuality EU. Entitled “Teams on Track”, the focus of the day was conflict(s), whether underlying or already out in the open. The morning featured a keynote by Professor Martin C. Euwema, followed by practical workshops in the afternoon.
My main takeaway (which I have attempted to capture in my visual notes) is that conflict, and the stress that accompanies it, are part of life. They are even essential to our survival. The key is not to avoid conflict, but to choose consciously the right strategy for addressing it. Whatever our personal style and sensitivity and that of the other party, whether more dove or more hawk, we often need to navigate between the two, depending on our goals and the context. Positioning oneself as a peacemaker, and actively practising and fostering peacemaking, particularly when leading a team, may well be the boldest approach. It is also, in many cases, the most effective way to address workplace conflict.
Thank you to the organising team and all the participants for such an inspiring day. One that, in its own way, gave me hope for humanity.
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