Whether you’ve been working for a few years or a few decades, you’re going to have conflict at work. I promise (even though that’s a sucky promise to have to make.)
There’s no way around it. Conflict is a normal part of challenging each other’s thinking. When managed well, it actually helps us see new perspectives and connect with each other better than before.
But sure, conflict at work has a bad rap. We think of it as ugly. Most of us shy away from it, letting things fester and hoping those disagreements will just flitter away into the ether.
They rarely do.
Conflict at work doesn’t have to be ugly, and you have more control than you think, including imagining positive intent (one of my favorite strategies that works to change your thoughts, which changes your emotions, which then changes your words and actions).
In this excerpt from the Audible version of my book, “Red Cape Rescue: Save Your Career Without Leaving Your Job,” I share Alan’s story of how his buttons got pushed and how he imagined positive intent to get to a better outcome.
6 min., 35 seconds
Get the complete audiobook on Audible here.
Find the paperback or ebook on booksellers around the world here.
Want more resources to help you manage conflict at work?
- Read 9 Questions to Ask When Your Buttons Get Pushed.
- Read Office Politics: What’s Really Going On (and What You Can Do)
- Take my online, on-demand class Get Career Clear to refocus on who you are and what you want (and see why certain people or behaviors rub you the wrong way)
