Christopher, I couldn’t agree with you more. Conflict is very difficult for some people to deal with and there are cultural differences in the way that conflict is perceived. As a manager, it takes lots of time and one-on-one coaching to be able to detect how your team with respond. Conflict avoiders can become passive-aggressive, which can wreak havoc in the group. Again, communication is the best way for the leader to keep a pulse on how the group is progressing. Once trust is established, allowing structured, healthy “debate” is warranted. Avoiding the word “conflict” and replacing it with words like “debate” is also a good idea. Dr. Jamie Morley