Business leaders will inevitably face crisis or conflict within the workplace, but how they handle such issues will define their ability to be effective leaders. That being said, great leaders embrace conflict and stand up for issues they believe in.
Adam Ferrari s a petroleum engineer and the founder of the mineral acquisitions company, Ferrari Energy. Ferrari was initially trained as a chemical engineer, a degree that he completed magna cum laude. After graduation, he entered the business sector, where he gained experience in finance and investments. As he went from chemical engineer graduate to CEO, Ferrari established himself as an expert in his field and as an accomplished and effective leader at Ferrari Energy.
In this article, Ferrari explains how failing to take a side ultimately hurts leaders and their organizations.
Leave Emotion Behind and Think Logically
Good leaders can set aside their emotions when analyzing a situation. This is crucial when assessing conflict, as emotions can conflate an issue and cause parties to act irrationally. After thinking over a problem, employees in positions of leadership should choose a solution that benefits them and the other parties involved.
Build Relationships Instead of Destroying
Leaders who want to fight for the greater good choose to build relationships instead of burning bridges. A critical factor in doing this effectively is respect for all parties involved. To solve conflict and not burn bridges with colleagues and potential clients, everybody involved in said conflict should practice empathy and patience. This will result in more peaceful conflict resolution and could even bring forth discussions that could improve the company.
It’s also essential to think about an employee’s ability to resolve conflict in the hiring process. Management should be mindful that while professional and technical skills are critical, employees should also be able to get along well with their team members and superiors.
Intentional Leadership
Picking a side in an argument helps a leader solve the problem at hand. Passive interactions in conflict resolutions do not benefit anybody and create confusion amongst all parties involved. Choose a stance based on an analysis of the situation, and move forward.
Stay Behind the Flock
Nelson Mandela said, “A leader…is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind.” This means that strong leaders recognize their employees’ strengths and weaknesses and find ways to guide them without demanding too much attention.
About Adam Ferrari
Adam Ferrari is a petroleum engineer and entrepreneur, graduating magna cum laude. After college, he worked for a number of organizations and learned about mineral rights, energy, as well as finance. After gaining this experience, he decided to establish his own Denver-based mineral acquisition company, Ferrari Energy. When he isn’t working, Adam Ferrari is giving back to his community. He supports organizations including St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Freedom Service Dogs, Denver Rescue Mission, Coats for Colorado, and Next Steps of Chicago.
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