Leaders need to be able to navigate conflict in a productive way. Unfortunately, a lot of us are never taught these soft skills of how to handle difficult conversations when emotions may be high. This requires emotional intelligence in order to be able to regulate your own emotions and understand the emotions of the other people involved.

Most people don't like conflict. A lot of us avoid it at all costs, delay it as long as possible, or say anything just to get through it. Sound familiar? But as a leader, conflict is something we need to get more comfortable with navigating, both for ourselves and for our team. When building your growth mindset around conflict, the best place to start is shifting your relationship to conflict.

Holding other people accountable is a key piece of being a manager or leader in an organization. It can be difficult to hold others accountable because each person has different motivations and communication styles that will impact their accountability needs. Continue reading to learn how to get started and what to do when people don't meet your expectations.

Most people tend to put off difficult conversations because they know it will be uncomfortable. I always say, it's better to have the 10 minute uncomfortable conversation now than to simmer in your worry, anxiousness, and uncertainty for weeks, months, or even years for some people. There are a few key skills that you can keep in mind to help navigate these conversations with ease and rip the band-aid off sooner.

These tips have helped me immensely while navigating difficult times personally and professionally from unexpected company restructurings to navigating the pandemic to handling the losses of loved ones. We will continue to need to navigate challenging situations full of uncertainty in the future. And the more intentional you are, the better off you will be to confidently navigate it when the time inevitably comes around again.