Benefiting at work from Brain Based Insights

Whenever you’re in conflict with somebody, the brain can provide you with tools that saves and deepens the relationship, rather than damage it. In fact, when you look at how the brain operates to build peace, you see how many of the greatest conflicts are less between you and others, than between you and yourself. Simply put, while conflict is inevitable in any workplace, combat is optional for those who learn smart skills that promote resolution.

Conflicts are built into the nature of life, and yet people who apply skills of high performance minds prevent conflicts from slowing down their higher chosen values. It may be far easier to call on forces that will help you duke it out, but it’s worth learning tactics for winning results that promote finer victories for an entire community.  In this regard, conflicts raise the flag and show the beginning of consciousness, which instigates invention, shocks us beyond lethargy, and sets us on a path for creative change. 

Focus too much on the conflict and you will divert precious mental energy as well as waste high level talents. Lack of conflict, however, does not mean lack of disagreement. In fact, in a healthy work atmosphere, people respectfully speak out and invite change whenever they disagree.  Healthy tone is the divider between speaking out for change that benefits all, or speaking out for conflict that divides people and destroys growth possibilities.

The following smart skills will help your brain to rewire for conflict resolution:

1, Rather than run after big changes, start with small measurable differences your own tone can build, over time, as tone will add up smaller instances into larger resolutions not evident at first. Keep track of each change you make and jot down results you observe over a week, before trying a second tone skill for peaceful solutions that spark change in you first. 

2. Keep solutions simple. Act in ways that others would describe as fair and generous, rather than controlling. Do what you enjoy most, and model for others how to live creatively in the moment, rather than waste talent on conflict. Track for progress for any conflict free goals you set.

3. Act out the opposite of conflict in small ways daily. That includes a rejection of revenge, opposites of aggression, and practiced humility instead of retaliation. The foundation of such opposites comes through deliberately increasing serotonin, a hormone builder of peaceful possibilities.

4. Imitate and learn from those who survived conflict and now hold keys to peace. Ulysses S Grant shows the power of the brain, that imaging now affirms can be ours when we act on it… It’s been my misfortune to be engaged in more battles than any other general on the other side of the Atlantic. But there was never a time during my command when I would not have chosen some settlement by reason rather than the sword. It’s too late for Grant to learn resolution smart skills for peace but not to late for the rest of us. The mind is more than equipped to convert a culture of conflict to one of shared values for peace.

Those who hold that fighting defends freedom, and not to fight equals an acceptance of barbarism, have not tried the brain’s amazing capability for finding peaceful possibilities for those who tap its acumen. What do you think?