Chicago Booth Review Podcast
Don’t avoid workplace conflict
Mar 26, 2025
Lisa Stefanik, an expert in interpersonal dynamics at Chicago Booth, dives into the essential nature of workplace conflict. She explains how avoiding confrontation can lead to echo chambers, stifling innovation. Instead, conflict can serve as a valuable tool for better decision-making and collaboration. Stefanik emphasizes the need for open communication and accountability in corporate structures, advocating for discomfort as a pathway to constructive dialogue. By embracing tension, teams can strengthen their relationships and improve organizational outcomes.
28:41
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Quick takeaways
- Embracing workplace conflict can reveal underlying issues, fostering communication and leading to healthier relationships among team members.
- Creating an environment that encourages open discussions and respectful pushback is essential for improving decision-making and innovation.
Deep dives
The Value of Workplace Conflict
Workplace conflict can be viewed as a positive force rather than a negative occurrence, as it reveals underlying issues and differences in perspective. Primary causes include role ambiguity, divergent goals, and communication breakdowns, all of which contribute to tension among team members. Instead of avoiding conflicts, embracing them can foster communication and lead to healthier workplace relationships. Recognizing conflict as valuable feedback allows individuals and teams to grow and improve collaboratively.
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