Productive Conflict: What It Looks Like At Work And How To Promote It

Knowing workplace conflict is inevitable in companies of all sizes, smart leaders do their best to help teams harness it as a catalyst for growth. As team members navigate diverse perspectives and competing priorities, the true measure of organizational success lies in how their leaders transform these friction points into opportunities for collaboration and breakthrough thinking.

A constructive exchange of differing ideas and perspectives comes from a place of mutual respect and ultimately helps teams identify the best solutions. Below, our Founder Kathy Shanley joins a Forbes Expert Panel to explain what productive conflict looks like at work and explore effective ways to build a culture where a healthy approach to disagreement drives creativity and fosters stronger, more resilient teams.

Productive conflict occurs when there is an open exchange of converging ideas designed to uncover a range of options. One way leaders can promote it is by asking the opinions of those who are silent. For example, ask “What does the silence mean?” Another way is encouraging your team to get curious about each other’s ideas. Do it by listing the different points of view and asking the pros and cons! — Statice Founder Kathy Shanley