Hey! This article is going to be a little different…

You may be wondering a little about how I came to focus so much of my work on conflict resolution and organizational health…

Let me tell you a quick story about a time I was sent to advise on peace-building in Africa. While there, I got into a conflict I couldn’t resolve.

This was back in 2003. At the time I was working with a small team to advise on peace-building in South Sudan.

For reasons I didn’t understand, communication started to break down between myself and the team leader.

Whatever our issues were: professional differences, cultural differences, personal differences – we couldn’t sort them out.

I grew more and more frustrated with the conflict. I was embarrassed professionally. I was deeply discouraged by my inability to resolve my own conflicts – let alone anyone else’s.

Then something really bad happened: The conflict spun out of control.

Our team ended up splitting into two. Because we couldn’t work together, we worked separately to research and advise on how others could build peace in South Sudan.

The irony ate at me.

Our work was compromised. We couldn’t advise with credibility. We couldn’t serve a region of the world that needed it.

We were sent to counseling. I couldn’t believe it.

The counselors didn’t know how to help. I was miserable.

As you might imagine, I was in bad shape. I felt humiliated professionally. I felt helpless personally.

I realized that while this situation was unique, not knowing how to resolve conflict was common.

I knew that I needed to stop blaming others. Something needed to change. I needed to change.

Then I discovered the secrets of conflict resolution. I couldn’t believe it! They worked!

When I focused on changing myself, and how I related to conflict, I created different results.

Over time, I began to discover simple ways to harness conflict to actually help teams and organizations to become even more successful.

I literally felt like I had discovered a magic power.

I had finally figured out how to:

• Dramatically grow my ability to listen deeply and communicate respectfully as a leader.
• Use the experience of conflict to actually strengthen relationships and build.
• Make small tweaks to how teams work and communicate which reduces or resolves up to 80% of all conflict.

I focused on changing myself, and how I related to conflicts, I began to regularly experience respect and resolution.

I learned how to help my clients make the simple changes that allow conflict to be a powerful force for happy teams but also far more effective and profitable. I learned how to help my clients:

• Confidently engage in difficult conversations without fear of conflict.
• Get unstuck and reclaim lost relationships, time and money.
• Quickly resolve conflicts and even grow their teams through the experience.

Conflict is normal. It’s even necessary. But too many leaders aren’t sure what to do when it occurs.

Too often, leaders tend to fall into fight or flight mode. Overcome the disagreement or avoid it as long as possible.

But I’ve learned to turn conflicts into opportunities. I don’t need to be afraid when I run into the inevitable misunderstanding or disagreement or difference.

Now I know it’ll be a valuable experience. So, I have hope in conflict. I have confidence that there will be a resolution. And things will be better because of it.

And that’s why I’m so excited to tell you about my new book, Conflict and Leadership: How to Harness Conflict to Build Better Leaders and Thriving Teams. This has been a passion project of mine for the last three years.

I’m thrilled to be able to tell you that my publisher has announced a release date of March 19^th!

So many of my clients have experienced dramatic growth and changes in their leadership and effectiveness by applying the principles in this book.

Because I believe so much in the message of this book – I want to make sure that you get a copy of it.

The publisher has set the retail price at $34.95. But, for a limited time, I’m giving it away for free!

Between now and the end of March, anyone who signs up for a copy of the book (You can choose a print copy or Kindle copy) will receive it free. A gift from me.

Here’s all I ask in return:

• Shipping and Handling: If you request a print copy, I’ll ask for a small shipping and handling fee of $3.99. The Kindle version will have no associated cost.
• A Review on Amazon: Reviews help others know whether or not you found the book helpful. I want you to be honest. I think you’ll love the book and recommend it to others. But even if not – I ask you to make a quick review.

Click here to receive your copy.

Thank you!

Christian