Addressing conflict head-on can be a game changer. Embracing disagreements can save years of therapy and legal fees. Often the impulse is to avoid conflict at all costs and run for the hills. It is important to remember families are diverse, conflict is natural and, in the end, conflict resolution makes you stronger and more resilient.
Some ideas:
Lean into it. Conflict is inevitable, especially with next of kin. Embrace it by providing compelling engagement opportunities for the family to acknowledge emotions and encourage transparent communication in a safe environment.
Deal in facts. Understand the facts instead of making assumptions. Using an anonymous assessment tool for the family to gather neutral data allows every voice to be heard and can be pivotal for productive conversations.
Own your part. Take responsibility for your actions by stepping up, and start seeing things through someone else’s eyes versus your own. Reflect on how you can approach a sticky situation. If it goes sideways, circle back, acknowledge it and do better next time.
Honor family roots. To diffuse friction, get back to your family roots and shine light on past disagreements to avoid carrying weighty resentments and strife into the future. Explore the roots of conflict with the goal of striving for family unity.
Professionalize the family. Be proactive and efficient by putting systems and processes in place before they are needed. Creating a solid foundation for family governance provides a necessary resource to effectively handle discord when issues arise.
Caroline Coleman Bailey is a third-generation member of the Gallo family and founder & CEO of Premier Growth. She is author of the recent book Rooted in Family: Honoring the Past While Creating Our Future
