We all have conversations we know we should have, but keep putting off. Maybe it feels too small to bring up, or we worry that saying something will only make it worse. But avoiding the conversation rarely makes the issue go away.
According to conflict resolution facilitator Priya Parker, the conversations we avoid are often the ones we need most. In fact, the right kind of conflict can actually bring us closer.
Priya is the author of the new book The Art of Fighting, and she’s spent her career helping people get better at navigating conflict instead of running from it. In this conversation, Priya explains why healthy conflict can build trust and shares practical tools for approaching difficult conversations.
If there’s a conversation you know you need to have, this might be the nudge you need to finally have it.
The right type of conflict is actually incredibly intimate. It builds trust. Share on XYou’ll Learn
- Why avoiding conflict can actually create more distance in our relationships.
- How healthy conflict can build trust and deepen connection.
- Why the conversations we avoid are often the ones we need most.
- How your own relationship with conflict shapes the culture of your team.
- The simple “Rose and Thorn” exercise leaders can use to encourage more honest conversations.
- How to recognize the warning signs that a team or organization may be headed toward conflict.
- How to create the right conditions for healthy conflict instead of letting small issues grow.
- Why different relationships and groups require different approaches to difficult conversations.
- A simple mindset shift to help you start a hard conversation: “I choose to have this conversation because I care about this person.”
People/Resources Mentioned
- The Art of Fighting by Priya Parker
- The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
- Bruce Tuckman:Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing model
- Exit, Voice, and Loyalty by Albert Hirschman
- The Soul of Money by Lynne Twist
- Anand Giridharadas
- Adam Grant
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