Leading Through Conflict!
Rather than be surprised by conflict we should be surprised when it isn't present. Conflict is everywhere. In fact, it's built into our commercial and civic institutions. "Democracy" and "free market" are based on conflict. But here's the catch, the skills for dealing with conflict are rarely taught. And our leaders mostly seem to promote conflict for their own ends. We need a new kind of leadership that acknowledges dealing with conflict and difference as a central goal. We need the leader as mediator to be able to: Improve increasingly diverse workplaces that are under global pressures to perform. Restore civility and collaboration in fractured communities and neighbourhoods. Re-energise the respect and vitality of our schools. Bring compassion back to the core of our health care systems. Foster a more policy-based, less personality-based political discourse. Generate a more open, curious and inclusive attitude toward difference more gene