We’re in the midst of a pandemic, recession, wildfires, hurricanes, civil rights movement, and divisiveness the likes of which most of us have never known. This election season is like none other.

Are you caught in the middle of starting to connect with new people online and hearing pleas from others who wanted to go back to the way things were?

When you work with people (ah-hem, most of us!), there are going to be times when you get hurt or offended by others. Either the people you lead, your peers, or those leading you are going to offend you. Even if you are easy going and it takes a lot to offend you, it will still happen. None of us is immune to this. When this happens, do you handle it in a productive way?

Conflict, do you have a love or hate relationship with it? For most people, it depends on the families they grew up in and how conflict was viewed. If you’re from the Midwest (or Bold North as I prefer), you likely grew up in a culture where passive-aggressive responses reign and conflict is swept under the rug. The reality though is that conflict is essential for growth, personally and professionally. Let me demystify conflict for you and dare I say, even encourage you to promote it?