http://www.alwaysdoneitthatway.com/2005/12/02/dont-be-afraid-of-conflict/ 101 Things About Associations We Must Change Sun, 01 Aug 2010 09:09:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://www.alwaysdoneitthatway.com/2005/12/02/dont-be-afraid-of-conflict/#comment-24 Dear Association Leader » Blog Archive » Are you fearful of conflict? Tue, 14 Mar 2006 17:24:09 +0000 http://www.alwaysdoneitthatway.com/2005/12/02/dont-be-afraid-of-conflict/#comment-24 [...] We Have Always Done It That Way: 101 Things About Associations We Must Change by Five Independent Thinkers asks Why is everyone afraid of conflict? Board, members, committees, staff groups, leaders, followers"”the one thing they all have in common is that they are afraid to confront each other with conflicts or significant differences in opinions. … Instead of dealing with the conflict, the first response is to end the relationship. Unfortunately, this response is typical. … Conflict is a natural part of every single human system, so instead of trying to avoid it (which is impossible), how about learning how to deal with it more effectively? … When conflict is avoided, the real issues never get out on the table. … In fact, in cultures where conflict is routinely avoided, being "accountable" becomes quite difficult, and results suffer"”all because we were afraid to deal with conflict. [...] [...] We Have Always Done It That Way: 101 Things About Associations We Must Change by Five Independent Thinkers asks Why is everyone afraid of conflict? Board, members, committees, staff groups, leaders, followers””the one thing they all have in common is that they are afraid to confront each other with conflicts or significant differences in opinions. … Instead of dealing with the conflict, the first response is to end the relationship. Unfortunately, this response is typical. … Conflict is a natural part of every single human system, so instead of trying to avoid it (which is impossible), how about learning how to deal with it more effectively? … When conflict is avoided, the real issues never get out on the table. … In fact, in cultures where conflict is routinely avoided, being “accountable” becomes quite difficult, and results suffer””all because we were afraid to deal with conflict. [...]

]]> http://www.alwaysdoneitthatway.com/2005/12/02/dont-be-afraid-of-conflict/#comment-9 Nick Tue, 06 Dec 2005 20:26:40 +0000 http://www.alwaysdoneitthatway.com/2005/12/02/dont-be-afraid-of-conflict/#comment-9 Good advice. I've come to the conclusion over the past couple of months that it's a form of dishonesty to not discuss conflict (at least somewhat) openly. It kind of puts you in an "emotional Enron" situation--cooking the books of relationships. It certainly causes loads of problems, and the trouble is, the organization is always weaker for it. Good advice. I’ve come to the conclusion over the past couple of months that it’s a form of dishonesty to not discuss conflict (at least somewhat) openly. It kind of puts you in an “emotional Enron” situation–cooking the books of relationships. It certainly causes loads of problems, and the trouble is, the organization is always weaker for it.

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