Exclusive Resource: Executive Guide: Managing Leadership Conflict & Conversations Ebook

In today’s complex business environment, managing conflict and the associated difficult conversations isn’t just another leadership skill – it’s a critical driver of organizational success. Despite this, research shows that 46% of leaders actively avoid difficult workplace conversations, often justifying this avoidance under the guise of “maintaining stability” or “prioritizing business results.”

The real cost of conflict avoidant leadership

When senior leaders avoid necessary but challenging conversations, the impact cascades throughout organizations with surprising speed and magnitude. From reduced productivity and morale to misalignment with strategic objectives, the fallout from side-stepping conflict and difficult conversations is real.

Consider this example scenario:

A high-performing senior executive consistently delivers exceptional financial results but creates significant organizational friction. They withhold critical information from their peers, inhibit cross-functional collaboration, and drive away top talent.

Despite this, the CEO is reluctant to confront this problematic executive because they produce such great financial results that are directly benefitting the company’s bottom line.

Sound familiar? It’s a pattern we’ve observed repeatedly in corporate leadership, where it can feel justified to prioritize short-term performance metrics over deeper strategic risks.

In order for your organizational change to be successful, you as a leader must prepare, equip, and support your people throughout the process to ensure people want to, and can adopt the changes. Without adoption from the organization’s people, change cannot be successful.

Executive Guide: Managing Leadership Conflict & Conversations

In our ebook Executive Guide: Managing Leadership Conflict & Conversations, we explore the top 5 leadership risk areas of avoidant leadership, and equip you with strategic tools to transform these challenging moments into opportunities for strengthening organizational alignment, culture, and long-term sustainability.

Download our ebook Executive Guide: Managing Leadership Conflict & Conversations for free in the link below!