The fear of crossing the bridge means you may never get to the other side – unless you can use emotional intelligence to build your way across. The way may not even be that difficult but when you run into an unfamiliar obstacle or a difficult challenge that has troubled you before it is normal to feel trepidation.
Dealing with conflict is a part of life, but many people will still choose to shy away from it. Figuring out where the true obstacles sit and exposing symbols of fear for what they really are can remove the confusion and enlighten the path forward. There is no shame in being scared; indeed, it is the response to this fear that can define who you are and the way you will choose to deal with things in the future.
Those with less experience in a sector, topic, or piece of work will tend to find it more daunting. This is where those with the right know-how can come to the fore, already aware of the reward that lies on the other side, and the reason for navigating this tricky impasse in the first place.
As the saying goes, fear makes the wolf look bigger. Therefore, it is important to see the issue for what it really is and derive a strategy that offers a suitable foothold to try to get to grips with the problem.
Finding ways to resolve conflicts in the workplace and in wider aspects of life will always be the key to progress and future success. How well you are able to take control of the situation and develop an organisation without hiding away from the hardest subjects to broach will define how others see you and how much they trust your ability to tackle a problem.
Next time, I will be looking at the risks of failing to have a difficult conversation as well as introducing the role of emotional intelligence as a key player to overcome stubborn barriers.
