Do you ignore conflict or seek to manage it? (137-1)

A leader that has mastered the many forms of communication has the ability to effectively manage conflict. Read Proverbs 15:1-7.

Every leader will face relational conflicts. I know of no leadership model that will allow a leader to avoid them. The question isn’t how do I avoid conflict but how will I best manage it when it arises.

In The Maxwell Leadership Bible, John Maxwell addresses correlation between mastering communication and managing conflict. The following are Maxwell’s notes on Proverbs 15:1-7:

God rightly expects leaders to manage conflict within their organizations. But how can you best accomplish this?

A good place to start is Proverbs 15:1 – yet while we often quote this verse, we seldom practice it.  Sometimes only the leaders are given liberty to express anger, and sooner or later this kind of unhealthy environment comes back to haunt them.  Leaders must create safe places for communication.  Master communication and you manage conflict.  Look at the first seven verses of Proverbs 15 and note its counsel about managing conflict:

1. Remain calm and gentle when confronting conflict, and our example will become contagious (v. 1).
2. Speak wisely, making sure your information is truthful and accurate (v. 2).
3. Remember, God is the ultimate Judge and will execute justice (v. 3).
4. Use your words to foster healing; fix the problem, not the blame (v. 4).
5. Stay teachable; be open to correction and quick to apologize when wrong (v. 5).
6. Add value to everyone who contacts you, even when you disagree (v. 6).
7. Speak words that spread knowledge and understanding (v. 7).

Fight or flight, aggression or avoidance – neither of these strategies provides long-term solutions for managing conflicts. Effective leaders don’t ignore conflict; they seek to manage it. One of the most effective conflict management tools in a leader’s toolkit is creating an environment where the entire team feels safe to communicate. A good leader is constantly seeking to improve their communication skills.