"There are three ways of dealing with difference: domination,
compromise, and integration. By domination only one side gets what it
wants; by compromise neither side gets what it wants; by integration we
find a way by which both sides may get what they wish."
--Mary Parker Follett
Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. Inevitably, we will experience times in our professional careers where we will disagree with a colleague on an issue or how to solve a problem. How we view that colleague and their abilities/capabilities determines how we will approach resolving the conflict.
As highlighted in today's article, "5 Ways to Promote Female Camaraderie at Work" by Maria Russo, women can become prey to negativity or perpetuate it because of our natural tendency to compare ourselves with other females we are around. This comparison can lead to negative behavior that manifest itself in acts of cattiness, jealousy, competitiveness and gossiping. It is hard enough to excel in the workplace as a woman without engaging in petty conflicts with another woman who should be an ally.
Ms. Russo challenges us in the Inc.com article to rise above the comparisons and focus our energies on accomplishing the work at hand. She also encourages us to foster community in the workplace by being supportive of others. That means both being willing and open to receiving support as well as giving support. When we are willing to give and receive support from our colleagues, we create camaraderie which in and of itself positively affects our work environment.
To read today's article, click here. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays or WOMEN AT LIBERTY, click here.
"But it strikes me that the biggest problems we face, many of the biggest disasters that we've experienced, mostly haven't come from individuals, they've come from organizations, some of them bigger than countries, many of them capable of affecting hundreds, thousands, even millions of lives. So how do organizations think? Well, for the most part, they don't. And that isn't because they don't want to, it's really because they can't. And they can't because the people inside of them are too afraid of conflict."
--Margaret Heffernan, Serial Entrepreneur and Author
Every other Tuesday, womenatliberty.com provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. This week's #LeadershipTuesdays feature is on the importance of having your own voice and having "your voice" heard and valued by the organization when it differs from the majority. Why is it important for an organization to value constructive conflict and those who may not always agree with an idea, policy, or a decision held by the majority? See the following quote from the Margaret Heffernan's TED Talk video:
"The fact is that most of the biggest catastrophes that we've witnessed rarely come from information that is secret or hidden. It comes from information that is freely available and out there, but that we are willfully blind to, because we can't handle, don't want to handle, the conflict that it provokes. But when we dare to break that silence, or when we dare to see, and we create conflict, we enable ourselves and the people around us to do our very best thinking."
There is a skill in learning how to disagree and harness the power in disagreements and constructive conflict to enhance relationships, discover new opportunities, and improve product/services and processes. A certain level of trust and respect must exist for both the organization and individuals within the organization in order for people to feel safe speaking up without fear of retribution. When these elements are not valued within the organization at every level, senior management as well as employees, we suffer events like the GM Ignition Switch Defect or the 1986 NASA Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster where precious lives are lost.
So what does it take to be able to appreciate constructive conflict? Check out Margaret Heffernan's Ted Talk by clicking here. You will enjoy the brief talk and be enlightened. For more information on #LeadershipTuesdays or womenatliberty.com, click here.
"Open information is fantastic,
open networks are essential.
But the truth won't set us free
until we develop the skills and the habit and the talent
and the moral courage to use it."
Margaret Heffernan, Serial Entrepreneur and CEO
Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. Today Leadership Tuesdays focuses on the importance of you having your own voice and having "your voice" heard and valued by the organization when your opinion differs from the majority. Why is it important for an organization to value constructive conflict and those who may not always agree with an idea, policy, or a decision held by the majority? In this inspiring and popular Ted Talk, Margaret Heffernan talks about how "good disagreement" is essential to progress and meaningful growth, both for individuals and the organization.
There is a skill in learning how to disagree and use disagreements and constructive conflict to enhance relationships, discover new opportunities, and improve product/services and processes. A certain level of trust and respect must exist for both the organization and individuals within the organization to speak up without fearing retribution. When these core values are within the organization, they help to prevent major problems and disasters. When these elements are not valued within the organization at every level, senior management as well as employees, we suffer events like the GM Ignition Switch Defect or the 1986 NASA Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster.
The best companies know how to value and harness conflict for the betterment of the company and its employees. People with good, fulfilling and long-lasting marriages have also learned this skill.
So what does it take to be able to appreciate constructive conflict? Check out Margaret Heffernan's Ted Talk by clicking here. You will definitely be enlightened. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays or WOMEN AT LIBERTY, click here.
