“When conflict is ignored—especially at the top—the result will be an enterprise that competes more passionately with itself than with its competitors.”— Howard M. Guttman
 
Managers spend an inordinate amount of time putting out fires, particularly interpersonal ones. Some say at least 20 percent of their time is consumed by managing conflict. Productivity decreases even further when coworkers ruminate over arguments and disagreements.
 
Managed well, conflict can stimulate creativity, motivate people to stretch themselves, encourage peer-to-peer learning and help teams move beyond the status quo. Your task, as a leader, is to facilitate tough conversations that help resolve most workplace conflicts.