Conflict, no one enjoys it, few want to admit that it happens, and most try to ignore it. Although that bit of truth should have seemed obvious, I recently learned that ignoring a problem will not make it go away; in fact it will simply get larger and larger. If we ignore conflict long enough, eventually it will paralyze what we are trying to accomplish and quite possibly overshadow or erase any progress we have made in our ministry efforts.Former football coaching great and announcer John Madden once noted; “Coaches have to watch for what they do not want to see and listen for what they do not want to hear.” This perspective can be applied to any leadership role, both small group coaches and leaders.
We should also keep in mind that the most common reason for conflict is lack of communication. If we choose to just walk away or ignore a perceived situation, that choice will almost always bring a negative impact and halt momentum. So what is the best course of action? Get those involved talking about it with each other in a non-confrontational way, and if necessary, revisit ground rules for your group.
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