The Impact of Conflict and Candor

One of the hardest aspects of leadership is understanding and resolving conflict. For some leaders, the issue isn’t so much the problem itself, but the perception of surrounding context. If conflict isn’t necessarily a collision of two opposing views, what is it exactly? Could conflict actually be a good thing?

As I discuss in this episode, conflict can be a valuable tool when approached with candor. For instance, at Disney, whenever disagreements arose, I’d exercise critique through positivity and transparency. This, in turn, allowed me to navigate challenges with courage and risk with honest assessment. In many ways, leadership is the same way. To lead well, you ultimately have to negotiate and mediate varying perspectives. Perhaps this is why many resources today talk about accountability through the lens of constructive communication.