Emotions, Apologies, & Letting Go

Emotions are perhaps the most essential aspect of conflict in the workplace. One of the greatest mistakes most people make is to underestimate or ignore the power that emotions have.

Emotions are an essential part of conflict. Strong feelings are both part of the catalyst for conflict and outcomes of conflict.

Negative emotions, like anger, shame, fear, hatred, and humiliation tend to increase when the thoughts, communication, and behavior surrounding conflict is adversarial.

Many emotional “hidden agendas” are really “deeply hidden agendas.” This means the person is not consciously aware or these feelings and how they are affecting their behaviour.

Most hidden feelings have grown over time. They are old hurts from past conflict experiences that have not be completely released. Lingering negative emotions create a stressful work environment and contribute to the terrible human and financial costs of conflict. Transforming conflict includes healing old and current hurts.