Turning Conflict Into Profit

Book excerpt: Conflict in the workplace becomes expensive when an organization’s efficiency is damaged by friction between employees. Conflicts can threaten the profitability and innovation of business, the sustainability of public institutions, and the health and achievement of individuals. Faced with conflict most people either lean away, avoiding the issue, or charge right in, escalating the problem. Neither strategy is ultimately successful and the social and financial costs can be devastating. Drawing on principles of psychology and sociology, Larry Axelrod and Roy Johnson have developed a new alternative for workplace conflict resolution. Turning Conflict Into Profit explains how “leaning into conflict” not only defuses workplace tensions but releases blocked energy into positive channels of development. Written in plain language, with real-life examples, Turning Conflict Into Profit offers a practical and rewarding roadmap through conflict.