If you want to do great things in life, being conflicted is good.
My last blog post and the one before it had a lot of generous people asking to help me because I seem conflicted. It’s true that I’m conflicted sometimes, but here are six reasons why that’s a good thing.
1) Conflicted means you don’t trust yourself
If you’re internally conflicted, it means you’ve realized you’re not always right. That’s smart. I’ve made many mistakes and the day I stop watching myself with a leery eye is the day I accept failure. Anyone who trusts themselves completely is on their way to disaster.
Whether it’s personally or as a team, it’s important to regularly question your practices, ideas, and policies in a changing world. The day you stop questioning is the day you fall behind.
2) Conflicted people are moving.
By nature, a “conflicted” person is in a state of unrest and is more likely to be moving. Somewhere. Once you stop, it’s hard to start again (inertia) and so successful people learn to keep moving.
3) Peace is not always a good thing
Peace in an organization is not great for advancement. In peace, there is groupthink, complacency, and a lack of creativity. People ask, “Why change a good thing?”
Change is good.
Observe the accomplishments and discoveries that happen when governments or companies are conflicted internally or externally. Look at the discoveries that NASA made while racing the USSR to space. Look at the technologies developed while defending our country in World War II. In conflict, people are forced to be at their best. It pushes us further.
The same goes for individuals.
4) Conflicted means you’re learning
Conflicted people or organizations are usually hunting for a resolution. The act of searching for answers keeps us learning, sharp and educated along the way.
5) Conflicted is good communication
The world is full of conflicts on the inside and outside. If you seem conflicted to outsiders, you are doing a good job of communicating reality. Various studies and my own research show we’re in an age of increased transparency and people prefer to work with people, leaders, and companies that are transparent, vulnerable, and humanized. If you seem conflicted, you also seem more real, approachable, and trustworthy as long as you keep your emotions in check.
6) Conflicted means you don’t settle for your first impulse
I think people should change their minds. Even though your first choice might be right currently, it may not be correct in 5 days or 5 years. Settling isn’t a good thing.
I realize that this may seem ludicrous to some (peace is bad, conflict is good business, etc.), so I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts on the issue. Good or bad, let’s have a discussion about this topic.
Have a great night,
Aaron@Biebert
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