You can run but you can’t hide from conflict

Outside the Box on December 18, 2008 10:14 AM

Conflict will take center stage at some point in your life. You will be the leading actor in every scene as it reveals a pressing issue or situation in your personal journey. Personally, I am not a fan of conflict, but the more I try to avoid it the more it comes to visit me. Conflict is not always in direct opposition of someone else for it can be an internal conflict that is festering inside of you waiting to be resolved. Overall, conflict resolution capabilities are the most integral set of skills that you must have to succeed in your life and career.

If you have ever managed a project you know that it comes with some form of challenges in either fighting to keep the team together or on schedule with tasks and project milestones. I find in managing a project that staying focused and setting aside personal differences is the hardest part of maintaining the integrity of the team. Facing conflict will always be a small part of every relationship even if you try to pretend that it isn’t.

Internal conflict is the biggest personal hurdle that I continue to struggle to jump over. The inner voice that alerts me that it is time to step outside the temple of my familiar is both exciting and a test of my willingness to embrace a discomforting need to change. I must admit an emerging conflict knows how to get its point across to me even when I try to tune out its message. I can run away at full speed but conflict can still meet me at the beginning or finish line of any endeavor to reveal whether or not I truly can endure the race.

Overall, the lesson learned is clear: you can run but you can’t hide from conflict.

Comments (4)

I have learned to enbrace conflict. In life, I have learned that there are agitators and arbitrators. It would seem as though I fall into the category of the latter. Growing up among four other siblings, you can imagine the amount of conflict I have encountered. Whether at work or at home, I have learned to be fair, open, honest, and humble when dealing with conflict resoultion. At the end of the day, we must all work or live together so running away from a conflict is not an option.

— Posted by GUIENT | December 18, 2008 6:56 PM | Comment Permalink

Kudos Alicia, for recognizing the most difficult conflict to escape rages within. For so many of us, "in transition" (isn't that a nice new term for the unemployed), seeking our next great opportunity, we can not run from our conflict. However, I recognize the desire to do so. Keep on posting "outside of the box!"

— Posted by Janine | December 18, 2008 4:41 PM | Comment Permalink

Excellent post. I agree. Conflict is everywhere. Instead of running from it, the best thing to do is learn how to deal with it. No matter far a person runs, things have their way of catching up eventually.

— Posted by Momie Tullottes | December 18, 2008 3:19 PM | Comment Permalink

Professional Conflict
Working in advertising in account services, I deal with conflicts often both internally and externally. I think what's key is to be a good listener. Everyone wants to be heard. They may be aware that what they want can't or won't happen but to know that they have a voice is important to them. This is a struggle for me because I don't tend to have patience to allow people to "vent" at work as I believe the time spent talking is time that could be spent working. But to be fair to my team, I need to allow them to express themselves.

Personal Conflict
I tend to hold on to things. My memory is probably my curse because I rarely forget things. I am slowly realizing that I can't control others so I need to be able to make up my mind and move on for my benefit versus dwelling.

— Posted by Maria Colquitt | December 18, 2008 11:49 AM | Comment Permalink

Post a comment

(ADVISORY: Your name (not your email address) will appear live online the way you enter it. If you do not want your name to appear next to your comment, use your initials or a nickname. If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)