Conflict management and mediation: key leadership skills for the millennium

Conflict is generally thought of as an obstruction to progress, but it need not be. There cannot be development if there is only one opinion. The problems come when people are defensive about their views, and feel threatened by opposing ones. Another way is to welcome differing outlooks as fresh blood to an old idea. Then differing opinions cross‐fertilise and lead steadily forwards. However, the tendency to protect one’s ideas from outside influence can be very strong, leading to bitter conflict. In the new, flatter organisation conflict is inevitable. A key leadership task is to create a climate where conflict is managed not avoided. Mediation and/or training in how to transform destructive conflict into constructive conflict is likely to be the development challenge at the start of the new millennium.