CIOs must learn to duke it out

Conflict is often the elephant in the room that executives strive to ignore. But no matter how tempting this may be, avoiding conflict gets you nowhere. CIOs must learn the art of productive fighting, says Lynne Eisaguirre, author of The Power of a Good Fight and president of human resources consultancy Workplaces That Work.

Eisaguirre has a few tips for “eating the elephant bite by bite”: Accept conflict as normal. People too often associate conflict with dysfunction, says Eisaguirre, but heated discussions are necessary for business success. Great innovation requires working through tough conversations and making collaborative decisions with your CEO, CFO and IT staff.

Be proactive. Unresolved conflicts can quickly spiral out of control and require the support of a third party. Avoid this destructive path by planning conflict resolution strategies before a blow-up takes place. If your company has hired a new CEO, brainstorm ahead of time how you will handle your inevitable first fight, advises Eisaguirre.

Harness your conflict management skills. Effectively managing conflict takes practice, because it’s counterintuitive to our gut responses. Participate in a conflict training course, and encourage your IT managers to do the same, she says.

Would you recommend this article?

Share

Thanks for taking the time to let us know what you think of this article!
We'd love to hear your opinion about this or any other story you read in our publication.


Jim Love, Chief Content Officer, IT World Canada

Featured Download

Featured Articles

Cybersecurity in 2024: Priorities and challenges for Canadian organizations 

By Derek Manky As predictions for 2024 point to the continued expansion...

Survey shows generative AI is a top priority for Canadian corporate leaders.

Leaders are devoting significant budget to generative AI for 2024 Canadian corporate...

Related Tech News

Tech Jobs

Our experienced team of journalists and bloggers bring you engaging in-depth interviews, videos and content targeted to IT professionals and line-of-business executives.

Tech Companies Hiring Right Now