It’s not possible to manage conflict by simply avoiding emotions. Our emotions are spontaneous and natural. To suggest we avoid them in difficult conversations is a fool’s errand. Instead, we have to learn how to be thoughtful and open about them. We have to be willing to dig a little more deeply into what they are telling us. This is essential because innovation almost always involves the effective use of differences. Learning how to talk about what makes us tick and what lies underneath our opinions helps to build the genuine, resilient relationships that are crucial to effective teaming.
