Conflict Management and Effective Confrontation

Often, we’re not arguing about what we think we’re arguing about. Conflict is an inherent part of work or personal life. Although often considered uncomfortable and avoidable at all costs by many of us (especially if you score high in agreeableness), how we manage conflict makes the difference, as opposed to how often we enter into conflict. Agreeing to disagree, as organizational psychologist Adam Grant points out, is not a valuable option to resolve conflict. It is, on the other hand, a possible defense mechanism to end the conflict as soon as possible and avoid the true, real elephant in the room, or the brain. For conflict to exist, there must be a perception of conflict between the parties involved. Conflict can arise from a clash of personalities, attitudes, circumstances. Our ego-driven brains often forget about getting to what's true as opposed to pursuing "being right." Every individual is capable of good and evil. There is this seemingly constant tension within each of us. Learning, practicing, and adopting a process-oriented, calm mindset in life can make a difference when it comes to handling conflict. Do you want to be focused on yourself and how right you are in the face of society and your ingroup? Isn't it a better idea to maybe pursue getting as close to the truth as possible in life and conflict alike? I believe this quote from psychologist Carl Gustav Jung points to a much-needed realization, especially in the context of conflict: