Countdown to 250: Managing the Conflict

To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace. 

George Washington 

*This Countdown to 250 series will examine the powerful role that early American Revolutionary leaders played in the 18th century—and the impact they can have on 21st century leadership development.  As the 250th (“semiquincentennial”) anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence draws closer, may all of us choose to positively impact those in our spheres of influence in revolutionary ways too.  

On the outskirts of Boston, George Washington faced two conflicts: battling the British who held the city and beginning his role as leader of the Revolutionary Army. Since he’d been a leader during the French and Indian War, Washington had acquired the skill sets needed to prepare and execute battle plans (a great overview of his early training can be found in the book Young Washington by Peter Stark).  But perhaps Washington’s greatest challenge was earning the respect of soldiers and seasoned leaders who had recently been placed under his command (for more on the battle at Boston, see Ron Chernow’s Pulitzer Prize winning book, Washington: A Life). 

The team at LEADon® has seen varying degrees of leadership challenges in every organization with which we’ve interacted.  Yet the worst tumult took us by surprise, even though the CFO in that construction company had tried to give us fair warning.  At every level of the organization, people struggled, many battling one another for power and position. Others were merely showing up, keeping their heads down and hoping to avoid the CEO who instigated much of the strife. No wonder new projects were dwindling right along with the company’s profits. 

Thankfully, employees rallied around the CFO who recognized the need for some revolutionary changes so that their Corporate Family could learn to manage the conflict and move forward as a unified team.  After several months, this valiant group was rewarded not only with a far more peaceful work environment but also with increased productivity and profitability.  

You may be wondering how that strife-ridden company made such a turnaround. As the CFO had surmised, something intentional had to be done—which in the quote by George Washington is identified as preparation.  This type of preparation is exactly what LEADon encourages, and below are four strategies that can help you and your team too: 

1. Recognize that conflict is real:  wherever two or more people are gathered, there will be conflict (by the way, this is true personally as well as professionally).  Embrace this reality and then actively apply the next three steps to address any and all conflict. 
2. Resolve conflict appropriately:  the key is to respond, not react, when conflict arises.  LEADon has a seven step process that leaders can readily implement to create more cohesion within their teams (for more details, check out our online course, LEADing By Resolving Conflict®).   
3. Role model:  set the example for resolving conflict to everyone in your sphere of influence.  During his early years of leadership, George Washington struggled to manage internal and external conflict. Yet over the years, he worked at controlling his own emotions, which allowed him to role model exceptional leadership skills that are still admired today (for more on POTUS1, read Revolutionary Leadership: Transcendent Lessons from the Life of George Washington by Wilke & Wilke, 2023). 
4. Reinforce sound leadership principles:  while preparation for winning the personal and professional battles in life is crucial, so is practicing key leadership skill sets. This is why soldiers drill, athletes practice, musicians rehearse, teachers train—well, you get the idea. Equip your team with the leadership principles they need to succeed in their roles and responsibilities, and then repeat, repeat, repeat! 

There are wars to be waged in today’s competitive marketplace, but your organization doesn’t have to suffer from unnecessary battles within. If the team at LEADon can assist you in managing whatever challenges you may be facing right now, please contact us today at www.LEADonUniversity.com.