Conflict is valuable for driving commitment and better decisions.

Engaging conflict allows for issues to get resolved rather than fester; flaws in plans to be identified and resolved early; and commitments to be made clearly and openly.rL1 Declining a request quickly can achieve these benefits and minimize downsides.rF4


  1. Nancy Friedman, “Word of the Week: Cunningham’s Law,” Fritinancy, May 31, 2010, https://nancyfriedman.typepad.com/away_with_words/2010/05/word-of-the-week-cunninghams-law.html. (See notes.)

  2. Patrick Lencioni, The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business, 1st ed (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2012). (See notes.)