Our CEO Nancy Priest was a recent guest on the Knack 4 Business podcast discussing why leaders tend to avoid workplace conflict and put off having difficult conversations with their teams.
Workplace conflict can simply be described as disagreements amongst staff. These disagreements are normal, expected, and a key ingredient to developing a successful team. However, conflict is often perceived as a personal threat which can cause tensions and escalate issues between employees. This is why it’s crucial for leaders to step in and help teams navigate conflict in a way that results in productivity – not negativity. Many leaders though, tend to avoid conflict because they hope things will get better, or the problem will just go away on its own. Doing so, only makes the situation worse.
Workplace conflict costs Canadian businesses over two billion dollars a year, according to a study by Morneau Shepell. Addressing it is a pressing issue.
Tune in to the podcast for the full conversation. Explore the impacts of leading like cowardly lions, and find solutions you can use to guide difficult conversations in your workplace.
