One of the myths about “great workplaces” is that conflict is rare. We believe that workplace disagreements are undesirable, that they’re distracting and hurt productivity. But research reveals that in many cases, disagreements fuel better performance. While personality clashes, or differences in values, can indeed be detrimental, conflicts that center on how work is performed can produce better decisions and stronger financial outcomes. Healthy debate encourages group members to think more deeply, scrutinize alternatives, and avoid premature consensus. The experience of open deliberation can actually energize employees by providing them with better strategies for doing their job. Instead of avoiding disagreements to maintain group harmony, create an environment in which thoughtful debate is encouraged. When no one is challenging you to think differently, you get stuck doing things the way you’ve always done them.
Adapted from
“5 Myths of Great Workplaces,” by Ron Friedman.
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