Conflict is often something that we try to avoid. It is often viewed as…

1. Hostile,
2. Frustrating,
3. Negative,
4. Uncomfortable,
5. ‘Win or lose’ in its outcomes.

So what does it mean when conflict is classified as being “positive”?

Positive conflict does not mean that the conflict was good, but rather that the occurrence of that conflict led to something beneficial.

1. It produced new ideas
2. It solved a long-standing problem.
3. It provided an opportunity to develop skills
4. It fostered creativity.

When opposing ideas are explored, breakthrough thinking can occur. Without conflict, we have ‘group think’, which discourages breakthroughs and innovation.

So the question is, how can you make conflict positive? Any suggestions? Looking forward to reading your wise thoughts…