Positive Conflict

Chapter 3

It’s Not About Taking Advantage

As I considered possible subtitles for this book, one that gained some early traction was: “How to turn any conflict to your advantage.” However, I became increasingly conscious of a particular tone coming from the word “your” that was not consistent with the intent of the book. It is too easy, in dealing with conflict, for the situation to turn into an “us versus them” or “your needs versus my needs” win-lose contest. Perhaps in certain of those “hardball” games of life, such a win-lose mindset can be rationalized. There is a simple and familiar philosophy that transcends this “winner take all” mentality, ...