Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Jerry Scott. We hope you enjoy Jerry’s wisdom and perspective.
Earlier this year my wife and I had the privilege of representing Gibson at one of the coolest and most emotionally compelling non-profit fundraising events in our community - Dancing With Our Stars, hosted by the Center for the Homeless. It’s an extraordinary evening filled with fun, laughter, and beautiful stories of changed lives.
Like most events, there was a silent auction filled with interesting donated items. Now Janet and I support many causes to the degree that we can, but we wouldn’t be mistaken by anyone as high rollers. So we are generally outbid quickly in the silent auction, but this time was different. We got lucky and won a bid on an experience donated by United States Senator Joe Donnelly for a personal tour of the U.S. Capital, dinner with Joe in Washington, D.C., and a travel voucher from Anthony Travel for part of the travel expense.
Janet had never been to Washington, D.C. and I had only been once for a very quick Chamber Fly-In. So as total West Wing fanatics, we resolved to take advantage of the opportunity and make the trip to our nation’s capital last July. We were able to tour the East Wing of the White House, the National Archive, all of the memorials around the Mall, most of the Smithsonian museums, the Capital, and the Capital Visitor’s Center. It was the most patriotic experience of my life.
You can study history, watch the news, see movies, vote, and participate in American democracy in a million ways but nothing is like the visceral experience of seeing things with your own eyes. To stand and look through glass at the original Declaration of Independence gave me goose bumps. That experience was repeated over and over again. We saw the sword George Washington carried throughout the Revolutionary War, Benjamin Franklin’s walking cane, the flag that inspired our national anthem, a set of slave shackles, and every weapon carried by American fighting men through the years.
So much sacrifice, so much bravery, and so much standing up for what one believes on display as an ongoing reminder of how much we have been through as a country. One small item on display in the Capital Visitor’s Center stopped me for minutes. Inches away from my face, in a case filled with historical information, was a button from the fight for women’s suffrage during the period from 1840-1920. Someone paid for that button, caused it to be manufactured, and proudly wore it as part of that cause. What a fight it was.
The fact that much of what we hold dear in America has been forged in conflict is not lost on me today. I probably stand alone in that I absolutely love the current loud and raucous political climate. Sure I record shows and fast forward through the commercials, but I love that people are so worked up. I love having friends who are on both ends of the political spectrum. I have liberal and conservative friends, pacifist and prepper friends, ultra-religious and LGBT friends, and it all mixes together in a cacophony which sounds to me like American democracy in action. It seems to me that conflict is good for the American soul.
Touring the Smithsonian Museum of American History gives you a breathtaking view of all of the monumental challenges America has overcome and endured over the past 300 years. I don’t know about you, but it gives me the strength and fortitude to handle this election with some modicum of grace.
Perhaps it is also true that conflict is good for the soul of a company. A quote has been circulating around social media recently and it caused me to ponder the issue.
“The biggest concern for any organization should be when their most passionate people become quiet.” –Tim McClure.
Passionate people, who are passionately committed to driving the company forward and accomplishing great things, are bound to enter into conflict from time to time. Opinions differ, discussions become heated, and things can be said or done in heat of the moment that can cause hard feelings. If we never experience or hear of conflict in our organization, you have to wonder where is the passion?
Gibson has a core value that Optimism Reigns – attitude and outlook impact results. It reflects our employee-owner mentality to build a great future for all of us. Hopefully, it doesn’t send a message that we can’t disagree and won’t from time to time do so forcefully.
Creative conflict is healthy and essential to the continuous improvement process. It is reflective of passion and a desire not to settle with good when we can be great. While the absence of conflict could be an indicator of a passive, withdrawn, apathetic, or complacent culture, the converse would be unhealthy conflict. Unhealthy conflict would be the opposite of our core value or a culture of negativity and criticism.
What’s The Risk?
The risk of not teaching a team how to handle conflict well is damage to relationships and culture. The ability to embrace healthy conflict can be a true differentiator for high performing teams.
Set a cultural understanding that conflict is a normal, healthy part of organizational life. It’s essential in the drive for excellence. It gives teammates permission to be themselves, to speak their minds, and to care deeply about what is going on.
Give them permission to be passionate.
Perhaps the clearest indicator of health is whether conflict leads to grudges or to decisions and new direction. Hopefully, when conflict erupts it can be resolved in a constructive way, bringing positive solutions and action plans. How leaders handle conflict often sets the example for everyone.
This content was written and shared by guest blogger, Jerry Scott. Connect with Jerry on LinkedIn and Twitter.
