Unleash Kingdom RelationshipsSample

Managing Conflict

Put two people together for eight hours or more a day in even a mildly stressful environment and conflict is bound to happen. Add a few more people along with the inevitable work issues we all face and conflict is likely to happen with greater frequency. What many people don’t realize is that, not only do you have different personalities at work, but each person perceives situations through different filters based on life experiences. We each have our own story operating beneath the surface. Misunderstandings often arise as a result of those hidden perceptions – hidden, that is, until someone is willing to invest the time to seek understanding.

What does the idea of conflict trigger in you?

Just the idea of conflict can bring up images of tension and going to battle. When conflict arises, it may trigger defensiveness, resistance, anger – reactions that only exacerbate the issue. But conflict doesn’t have to be a fight-or-flight situation.

Conflict exists on a continuum that ranges from healthy to unhealthy. On the far left, there are peacekeepers – conflict avoiders who promote artificial harmony. On the far right are those who engage in destructive behavior in times of conflict. In between there is an opportunity to speak the truth, become curious about different opinions, and possibly generate new ideas. The point is, we each have the power to choose.

With conscious effort and prayer, we can choose to be peacemakers by seeking to approach conflict in a healthy manner that promotes greater understanding, growth, stronger relationships, and even leads to innovative solutions.

Peacemakers “breathe grace.” They draw on the goodness and power of Jesus Christ, bringing love, mercy, forgiveness, strength, and wisdom into the conflicts they encounter at work. They speak the truth in love because it’s not about them. They are committed to model Christ by creating an environment in which people can grow through constructive feedback, build one another up, and encourage one another under all circumstances.

How can you use conflict to build others up, bring resolution and restore relationships?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to pause when a conflict arises and put my own agenda aside. May I be the one who seeks to understand so that times of conflict lead to better relationships and a stronger team. Give me the strength and wisdom to model healthy conflict. In Jesus’s name. Amen.