Conflict is everywhere we turn. There always seems to be an argument about politics, religion, or generational gaps on social media and late night television. What if these disagreements could be productive?
America was founded on combining old ways of thinking and producing something new.
Conflict is necessary for creativity and development; however, it has to be constructive. The idea isn’t to compromise, but to take the different perspectives and create hybrids. Constructive conflict could even resolve the seemingly elusive healthcare issue that has divided our nation.There are two stages necessary for constructive conflict to be harnessed successfully: rules and conversation.
For conflict to be constructive, you need to establish rules
Stage 1 is to establish the basic rules for differing parties to communicate. Expectations for the discussion must engender respect and esprit de corps. It is imperative that all parties are willing to work together towards a common purpose:
- Use respectful language (no shouting or personal attacks)
- Ensure information is readily available to all parties and verifiably accurate
- Answer questions honestly
- Develop a new solution
- Respect basic human rights
- Test and evaluate solutions by putting it into practice
Constructive conflict can be an engine for genius
Look closely and you will find constructive conflict in the very places that creative genius flourishes. For example, Saieh Hall has been the birthplace of a wide array of economic theories that have greatly influenced the way the free world of meaningful commerce functions.
The University of Chicago, Department of Economics, is home to 28 Nobel Laureates over the past century, and has created an educational dynasty. Famously competitive and contentious, every speech, research finding and published paper is an opportunity for disputation. But that’s what moves the field forward. Imaginative new theories are created and debated. Monetary policy, options, derivatives, and several other aspects of modern finance, for better or worse, are the inventions or improvements of the “Chicago Boys.” Thankfully, these days their ranks include women as well, because talent is prized above all.
To create something…
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