Day #25: Productive Conflict
Perfect Practice

Welcome to Day 25 of the 30-Day Say It Skillfully Challenge! Today's focus is conflict—not the destructive kind that erodes trust, but the productive kind that sharpens thinking and leads to better decisions.

Avoiding conflict may feel safer in the moment. However, over time, this often creates bigger problems: missed risks, shallow buy-in, and decisions that don't hold up under pressure. Skillful communicators know that disagreement handled well is a sign of a healthy team. 

Today's Challenge Scenario: 

You disagree with a colleague about a key decision. You see risks they don't, and you prioritize different outcomes. The conversation feels tense and you sense the pull to either back down to keep the peace or push harder to "win" the argument.  

What do you do?  

Instead of avoiding or escalating, reframe the conflict as shared problem-solving. This might go like: "We may be coming at this from different angles, but I know we both want to succeed—can we compare how we're seeing the risks?" or "Help me understand what's driving your view."

Why this works: Productive conflict separates people from positions. When disagreement is anchored in curiosity and shared purpose, it becomes a source of insight rather than tension. You don't weaken your perspective; you strengthen the outcome by staying engaged.

Cheering for you to make the most of this 30-day challenge—whether you're recommitting to a resolution, trying something new, or simply choosing to turn over a fresh leaf this year. One small step today can change how you show up all year long. You've got this!