Change the Focus

When you find yourself in conflict with a colleague who just doesn’t seem to be able to grasp your point of view, take a step back. Consider moving into the role of objective observer – pretend you’ve been invited to mediate between two strangers. Once you distance yourself from your own desired outcomes, you might better understand your colleague’s perspective. Sometimes it is more important to make progress than to be right, and all it takes is a little shift in perspective.